LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY OF CYSTS OF THE LIVER, SPLEEN AND MESENTERY

Five women and one man (average age 62.5 [20-64] years) with symptomatic intraabdominal cysts at different sites (liver: n = 3; spleen: n = 2; mesentery: n = 1) had them removed by laparoscopic surgery. Broad fenestration was performed with the hepatic and splenic cysts, while the mesenteric cyst was enucleated from the mesentery. There were no intra- or postoperative complications. Median duration of operation was 60 (45-125) min, postoperative hospital stay was 5 (3-6) days. After a median followup period of 8 (1-12) months a 3 cm residual cyst was found in the patient with the splenic cyst, but all patients were free of symptoms. - Laparoscopic surgery is a low-stress alternative to conventional surgical removal of intraabdominal cysts.