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Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Surgery with a Pfannenstiel Incision in β-Thalassemia Patients: Initial Experience

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Abstract

Introduction

β-Thalassemia patients have splenomegaly significant enough to require splenectomy; furthermore, these patients also often require concurrent procedures.

Methods

Between January and October 2005, seven patients with β-thalassemia underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy with cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and liver biopsy with the hand-port device introduced through a Pfannenstiel incision.

Results

The median age of the patients was 28 years, and the median spleen length was 23 cm. The median operating time was 210 minutes; there were no conversions to an open procedure; and the median spleen weight was 1072 g. One major postoperative complication occurred. The median hospital stay was 6 days.

Conclusions

The proposed hand-assisted laparoscopic approach is safe and feasible. It provides a minimally invasive alternative that may become the treatment of choice in β-thalassemia patients who require concurrent operations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Department of Propedeutic Surgery, University of Athens, Hippokration Hospital, 114 V Sofias Avenue, Athens, 11527, Greece

    Emmanuel Leandros MD, Nicholas Alexakis MD, Konstadinos Albanopoulos MD, Dimitris Dardamanis MD, Ilias Gomatos MD, Stefanos Papadopoulos MD, Christos Bacoyiannis MD & John Bramis MD

  2. Thalassemia Unit, Ag Sofia Children’s Hospital, Thivon and Levadias Street, Athens, 11527, Greece

    Markisia Karagiorga MD

  3. L Riancur 64, Athens, 11523, Greece

    Nicholas Alexakis MD

Authors
  1. Emmanuel Leandros MD
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  2. Nicholas Alexakis MD
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  3. Konstadinos Albanopoulos MD
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  4. Dimitris Dardamanis MD
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  5. Markisia Karagiorga MD
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  6. Ilias Gomatos MD
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  7. Stefanos Papadopoulos MD
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  8. Christos Bacoyiannis MD
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  9. John Bramis MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicholas Alexakis MD.

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Leandros, E., Alexakis, N., Albanopoulos, K. et al. Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Surgery with a Pfannenstiel Incision in β-Thalassemia Patients: Initial Experience. World J. Surg. 30, 1216–1220 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-005-0542-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-005-0542-7

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