Positioning for Emergency Laparoscopic Splenectomy for Traumatic Splenic Rupture.

Objective: To determine whether the right-lateral decubitus or supine position is superior for emergency laparoscopy for traumatic splenic rupture.

Study design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of General Surgery, Central Hospital of Shaoxing, Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Zhejiang, China, from January 2015 to December 2022.

Methodology: Clinical data of 96 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery (LS) for traumatic splenic rupture were analysed. The patients were divided into two groups according to surgical position. Group A (n = 42) patients were placed in the right-lateral decubitus position and Group B (n = 54) patients were placed in the supine position. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, conversion to laparotomy rate, postoperative length of hospital stay, and complications rates were compared between the two groups.

Results: Compared with Group B, Group A had a shorter operation time (145.5 ± 24.4 min vs. 169.0 ± 15.3 min, p = 0.0001), less intraoperative blood loss (75.3 ± 35.3 ml vs. 110.3 ± 50.6 ml, p = 0.0002), fewer conversions to laparotomy (2.4% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.023), fewer cases of postoperative pancreatic leakage (7.1% vs. 24.1%, p = 0.027), and fewer complications (23.8% vs. 53.7%, p = 0.003); all differences were significant. There was no statistically significant difference in the postoperative length of hospital stay, hospital cost, or rate of complications such as fever, postoperative abdominal infection, postoperative bleeding or venous thrombosis between the two groups.

Conclusion: For patients with traumatic splenic rupture, the right-lateral decubitus position is best for LS.

Key words: Laparoscopy, Traumatic splenic rupture, Splenectomy, Surgical position.