The need to remove the spleen occurs under two settings:
Emergency: If the spleen has been damaged by trauma it can bleed torrentially.
Without emergency surgery the outcome is potentially fatal if the splenic capsule is torn and there is disruption of the splenic tissue.
In such circumstances the patient requires immediate surgery and the advantages of a laparoscopic procedure give way to the need for rapid control of bleeding.
Elective: Removal of the spleen on a scheduled operating list may be indicated for a number of reasons:
If technically possible, and the spleen is not too large, a laparoscopic splenectomy is the preferred technique.