Laparoscopic splenectomy of a wandering spleen with coincidental enormous splenomegaly

Abstract

Ectopy of the spleen also referred to as wandering spleen is a rare condition and preferentially treated by laparoscopic splenopexy. However, in complicated cases with torsion and consecutive infarction of the spleen splenectomy is required. Performing the splenectomy of a wandering spleen laparoscopically has already been reported as a save therapeutic option. However, open splenectomy is usually preferred in case of massive splenomegaly for both, wandering and regular localized spleen. In this case report we describe a laparoscopic technique as alternative for conventional splenectomy in the case of a huge wandering spleen.

Keywords

• wandering spleen
• splenomegaly
• laparoscopic splenectomy