Subtotal Splenectomy or Splenic Cyst Excision

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for subtotal splenectomy or splenic cyst excision as performed by the following approaches: open and minimally invasive. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: entering the abdominal cavity, dividing the short gastric arteries and other splenic attachments, isolation and ligation of the segmental branches of the splenic vessels, division of the spleen, obtaining hemostasis, removal of the specimen, and closure of the abdomen.