2. REASONS FOR REMOVAL OF SPLEEN
SPLENIC MASSES
BENIGN (HEMANGIOMAS)
MALIGNANT (HEMANGIOSARCOMAS)
BLOAT
GASTRIC DILATATION and VOLVULUS
TRAUMATIC RUPTURE

3. TOTAL SPLENECTOMY TECHNIQUE
Incise the left paramedian or median line in
the cranial abdominal quadrant
If large spleen (neoplasm) is observed, incision
may reach from the xiphoid cartilage
to the pubis.
Abdominal incision should be large
enough for the spleen
to be adequately
be exposed and be
removed.

4. TOTAL SPLENECTOMY TECHNIQUE
Before removing the spleen, check the surrounding
organs first for evidences of metastases. The greater
omentum must partially or totally removed (spleen is
closely adherent to this structure)

5. IF NO TUMOR (CONGESTION/ TORSION)
1-2 ml of 1/1000 epinephrine solution
can be injected (slowly) in the splenic
artery after the torsion has been
corrected.
Ligate the splenic
artery
immediately

6. IF THERE IS TUMOR
Epinephrine administration is not
advice. (cause contraction of tumor
cells to the portal veins)
Major veins should be ligated
immediately to
avoid hematogenous
metastases.

7. TOTAL SPLENECTOMY TECHNIQUE
Surgeon must either ligate each vessel doubly or ligate
the gastric side and apply hemostat to the splenic side
and some several minute vessels can be ligated together
and mass ligation is not advice
Splenic artery must be divided between ligatures with
gastrosplenic omentum. The smaller vessels are divided
between ligatures starting at one end of the
hilus and proceeding to the other. The
splenic vein is ligated
last

8. For total splenectomy, double ligate and transect all vessels at the
splenic hilus. If possible, preserve the short gastric branches
supplying the gastric fundus.

9. TOTAL SPLENECTOMY TECHNIQUE
Prior to closing the abdominal incision, all
ligatures must be properly inspected to
avoid bleeders and hemorrhage.
After removing the ruptured spleen, other
viscera must be inspected also for
evidence of bleeders. If there is, it
must be controlled.

10. TOTAL SPLENECTOMY TECHNIQUE
If tumor is removed, inspect for the
other organs that has metastatic
lesions before closing the abdominal
cavity
IV should be discontinued
when the patient appear
to have recovered
from shock

11. TOTAL SPLENECTOMY TECHNIQUE
Most dogs and cats go home a day or
two after surgery. An iron supplement
may be needed to help the body
recover from any blood loss.
Antibiotics will likely be prescribed as
will some sort of analgesia (pain
relief) for the recovery
period.

12. RULE OF THE TUMB
1. PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION
2. ADMINISTRATION OF FLUIDS
AND BLOOD
3. OXYGENATION
4. DOUBLE LIGATION
5. CONTINUES SUTURE PATTERN
6. SYNTHETIC
MONOFILAMENT
ABSORBABLE SUTURE

13. RULE OF THE TUMB
7. LIGATURES NEAR SPLEEN
8. LIGATE SEPARATELY SPLENIC
VEIN AND ARTERY
9. MASS LIGATION FOR NEOPLASM
10. AVOID LIGATING SHORT GASTRIC
VESSLES