The spleen is an organ located in the upper left portion of the abdomen, behind the stomach. Its functions are to filter blood, remove bacteria, make blood and store blood.
Surgery
Depending on the condition being treated, a splenectomy may be performed with an incision or using minimally-invasive techniques. If the surgery is being perfomed laparoscopically, the surgeon uses a thin, telescope-like instrument called a laparoscope, which is inserted through a small incision. The laparoscope is connected to a tiny video camera which projects a view of the operative site onto video monitors located in the operating room. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide to allow your surgeon a better view of the operative area. Two or three additional small incisions are made near the laparoscope through which the surgeon inserts specialized instruments. The surgeon uses these instruments to remove the spleen. Following the procedure, the small incisions are closed with sutures and covered with surgical tape. After a few months, they are barely visible.
