ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safety and utility of the methods of spleen sub-pedicle two steps severance with LigaSure Vessel Sealing System combined with ultrasound scalpel to resect peri-splenic ligaments during laparoscopic splenectomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The methods and the curative effect of 32 patients with laparoscopic splenectomy performed by the way as mentioned above were summarized and analyzed. 4 males, 28 females, median 36 years (range 16 - 64 years). Mean dimensions of spleens were 17 cm (range 11 - 23 cm). Nineteen patients had idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), 6 hereditary spherocytosis (HS) (5 of them were the same family constellation), 3 hemolytic anemia (HA), 2 spleen injury with haematoma infection, 1 Evan syndrome, 1 leukemia. Peri-splenic ligaments were resected by LigaSure combined with ultrasound scalpel, splenic pedicle was resected by spleen sub-pedicle two steps severance with LigaSure when splenic pedicle were sufficiently free. Splenic pedicle was non-excisional occluded by LigaSure at pancreatic cauda, in the first step and was occluded and resected alongside of the spleen in the second step.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the 32 cases were completely succeed, the average operating time was 70 min (55 - 130 min), the estimated intraoperative blood loss was 200 ml (50 - 600 ml), no complications such as abdominal haemorrhage, visceral injury, pancreatic leakage and infection were observed. All the patients were healed well, the average hospital stay after an operation was 6 days. The average expense of each patients could save 8050 yuan because Endo-GIA was not used.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Spleen sub-pedicle two steps severance with LigaSure Vessel Sealing System combined with ultrasound scalpel to resect peri-splenic ligaments during laparoscopic splenectomy, which shorten the operating persistence time with less hemorrhage is a safe, effective and low-cost minimally invasive surgery in selective cases.</p>