We have all heard of the spleen. The spleen is an organ that is filled with blood and is situated in the upper left cavity of the abdomen. It is a storage organ for red blood containing several disease-fighting white blood cells (WBCs) which help in the filtering of blood.

Being a part of the immunity system, spleen helps in the removal of those blood particles which are damaged and/or old. The organ can also help in searching out and exterminating harmful bacteria. Moreover, the spleen can affect your platelet count, inclusive of RBC or WBC.

Despite the important role this organ plays, sometimes; there appears a necessity to remove it. The following paragraphs will be elaborating on why one needs to have a laparoscopic splenectomy and then the laparoscopic splenectomy surgery complications.

Why Do You Need Spleen Removal?

Different reasons which necessitate the removal of the spleen and performance of the splenectomy surgery. The reasons for the same are given here below:

The first cause is the Auto-Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura (or ITP) in which the count of the patient’s platelet lowers down due to the body’s manufacturing of antibodies to the platelets, causing the platelets to be destroyed in your spleen.

Since the platelets destroyed are those that aid in clotting blood, affected patients risk of bleeding excessively. Splenectomy is the best means of treating this kind of disease.

Next, if the patient suffers from what is called hemolytic anemia, the body produces antibodies to destroy the RBCs within the spleen. In this case, medical therapy often fails and then there is a need for spleen removal.

Certain hereditary diseases of the red blood cells such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease, spherocytosis can also necessitate spleen removal.

Patients suffering from cancer in cells that combat infection, certain types of leukemia require the operation as mentioned earlier. In this case, the spleen becomes too large and starts removing several blood platelets in an uncontrolled manner in the spleen. This calls for the operation.

Finally, there may come times when the supply of blood to the patient’s spleen is blocked and the artery expands abnormally and thus the spleen might be in the threat of becoming both, infected and thus, is best that the spleen itself is removed.

Having said all of this, now let us seek to comprehend laparoscopic splenectomy surgery. To understand the benefits of the surgery, you need to read on.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Spleen Removal

The benefits of spleen removal using a Laparoscope are many. Some are given for your reference here below:

•  Postoperative pain is lesser,

•  You do not have to stay in the hospital for a very long time.

•  The patient can return easily to normal day-to-day activities.

•  Quicker return to your daily solid food intake

•   There are lesser chances of having incisional hernias.

Although the operation is highly beneficial, yet there are few chances of complications. It is necessary that before this surgery, the surgeon should be consulted on discussing the rare, possible complications.

Complications

If there are possible complications, they are usually:

•  Cannula infection, pneumonia, internal bleeding.

•  Interior bleeding in the abdomen at the place which comprised of the spleen erstwhile

•  Pancreatitis is also possible along with leak fluid post-surgery.

•  Overwhelming Post-Splenectomy Infections can also occur after the surgery.

Conclusion

To more about the laparoscopic splenectomy surgery complications, it is advisable that you consult the Best hospital in Texas for surgery at Southlake General Surgery, located in Texas.