ROBOTIC SPLENIC ARTERY ANEURYSMECTOMY WITH VASCULAR ANASTOMOSIS AND SPLEEN PRESERVATION

Background: The da Vinci surgical System allows an easier and faster surgery also in challenging abdominal procedures, such as retroperitoneal and vascular procedures. We present here a case of a aneurysmatic dilatation of the distal splenic artery treated with the use of the the Da Vinci Si, with vascular anastomosis and spleen preservation. Materials and methods: A 67-years old man with a finding at CT scan of a distal splenic artery aneurysm was operated with the use of the Da Vinci Si surgical system. Patients was placed in a right sided position. Results: The procedure was successfully completed in 170 min. The distal splenic artery aneurysmectomy was easily performed, despite the presence of intense adhesions with the tail of the pancreas. The vascular end-to-end anastomosis was carried out, with 5/0 interrupted of gore-tex sutures, performing a spleen-preserving procedure. No conversion or intra-operative complications were recorded. The postoperative course was uneventful and an abdominal ultrasound scan showed a normal flow in the splenic artery. The patient was discharged on the 4th postoperative day. Conclusions: The da Vinci Surgical System can be safely used in the surgical treatment of a splenic artery aneurysm. The enhanced surgical dexterity offered by robotic assistance allows to easily perform also vascular anastomoses with the use of minimally invasive techniques and is important to allow splenic preservation.