Minimally invasive approaches in splenic surgery

Minimally invasive approaches have gradually evolved to become the golden standard in several surgical procedures. Laparoscopic splenectomy has been performed for several years offering similar or even better results compared to open surgery. Approaches in laparoscopic splenectomy regarding the positioning of the patient and the operative procedure still vary in the literature. Several new techniques and combinations of the existing methods are currently evaluated in an effort to overcome contraindications and offer optimum results in terms of safety, effectiveness and postoperative quality of life. This study aims to review the different approaches of minimal invasive splenectomy with specific emphasis on the technical issues of lateral and anterior laparoscopic, hand assisted, single port laparoscopic, robotic and transluminal endoscopic techniques.