Objective: Therapy-resistant immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is the most frequent indication of laparoscopic splenectomy (LS). It ensures the best results for this disease compared with possible second-line pharmacologic therapies. Therefore, learning about the safety of the surgical method and its long-term efficacy is important, as is selecting patients who respond to surgical treatment. Our purpose was to analyze the safety of LS and the short-and long-term prognostic significance of known perioperative parameters.

Methods: We performed 40 LSs for ITP from January 1, 2000, to January 1, 2015. We analyzed the roles of the perioperative parameters by using evidence-based guidelines.

Results: Complete response (CR; platelet count over 100 × 109/L) occurred in 28 cases (70%) and partial response (PR; platelet count between 30 and 100 × 109/L) in 5 cases (12.5%). Below the age of 50, 9% (2/22) of the patients had no response (NR; platelet count not increasing over 30 × 109/L), 28% (5/18) over the age of 50 (P = .023) had no response. In the steroid-refractory group, 30% did not respond, whereas 100% of the steroid-dependent patients had a CR (NR: 7/23 steroid refractory vs 0/17 steroid dependent; P = .027). The patients were followed up for a mean of 10.9 ± 6.9 years, and a long-term response (LTR) was detected in 21 of the responders (n = 33). Of the patients who originally had a CR, 71% also achieved LTR, whereas only 20% of the PR patients did.

Conclusions: LS is safe and remains the most effective second-line treatment for ITP. In our study, younger age and response to preoperative steroids were predictive factors for the long-term success of splenectomy.