@article{3099986,
    title = "Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery with a Pfannenstiel incision in
beta-thalassemia patients: Initial experience",
    author = "Leandros, Emmanuel and Alexakis, Nicholas and Albanopoulos, Konstadinos and and Dardamanis, Dimitris and Karagiorga, Markisia and Gomatos, Ilias and and Papadopoulos, Stefanos and Bacoyiannis, Christos and Bramis, John",
    journal = "World Journal of Surgery",
    year = "2006",
    volume = "30",
    number = "7",
    pages = "1216-1220",
    publisher = "Springer-Verlag",
    issn = "0364-2313, 1432-2323",
    doi = "10.1007/s00268-005-0542-7",
    abstract = "Introduction: beta-Thalassemia patients have splenomegaly significant
enough to require splenectomy; furthermore, these patients also often
require concurrent procedures.
Methods: Between January and October 2005, seven patients with
beta-thalassemia underwent hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy with
cholecystectomy, appendectomy, and liver biopsy with the hand-port
device introduced through a Pfannenstiel incision.
Results: The median age of the patients was 28 years, and the median
spleen length was 23 cm. The median operating time was 210 minutes;
there were no conversions to an open procedure; and the median spleen
weight was 1072 g. One major postoperative complication occurred. The
median hospital stay was 6 days.
Conclusions: The proposed hand-assisted laparoscopic approach is safe
and feasible. It provides a minimally invasive alternative that may
become the treatment of choice in beta-thalassemia patients who require
concurrent operations."
}