Laparoscopic mesh splenopexy (sandwich technique) for wandering spleen

• Published in: Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 246 - 251
• Main Authors: Palanivelu, Chinnusamy, Rangarajan, Muthukumaran, Senthilkumar, Rangaswamy, Parthasarathi, Ramakrishnan, Kavalakat, Alfie J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons 01.04.2007
• Subjects: Adult; Case Reports; Female; Humans; Laparoscopy - methods; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Implantation - methods; Surgical Mesh; Ultrasonography; Wandering Spleen - diagnostic imaging; Wandering Spleen - surgery
• ISSN: 1086-8089; 1938-3797

Wandering spleen is a rare clinical condition caused by incomplete fusion of the 4 primary splenic ligaments, allowing the spleen to be mobile within the abdomen, predisposing to splenic torsion along the vascular pedicle leading to splenomegaly and infarction, often diagnosed in an emergency setting. The wandering spleen diagnosis was achieved by ultrasound in our case. We successfully treated the patient with laparoscopic splenopexy because the size was almost normal, and no infarction or evidence of hypersplenism was present. We used the sandwich technique in which 2 meshes sandwich the spleen. This technique was found to be highly satisfactory as a treatment for wandering spleen. The patient was discharged on the third postoperative day with no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Laparoscopy usually confirms the diagnosis. Recommended surgical procedures are splenopexy or splenectomy. Splenopexy is feasible, less invasive, and does not diminish splenic function.