Surgery>>>>>Spleen
Question 16#

All of the following are true regarding laparoscopic splenectomy EXCEPT:

A. It is associated with shorter hospital stays
B. It is associated with increased intraoperative blood loss
C. It is associated with decreased morbidity
D. Patients are positioned in the right lateral decubitus position or the 45° right lateral decubitus position

Correct Answer is B

Comment:

Laparoscopic splenectomy has become the favored procedure versus open splenectomy for elective splenectomy over the past two decades and is now considered the gold standard for elective splenectomy in patients with normal-sized spleens. With experienced surgeons laparoscopic splenectomy is associated with decreased intraoperative blood loss, shorter hospital length of stay, and lower morbidity rates as compared to open splenectomy. Laparoscopic splenectomy is often performed with the patient in the right lateral decubitus position, patients are sometimes placed in a 45° right lateral decubitus position to facilitate easier access for concomitant procedures such as laparoscopic cholecystectomy.