Each adrenal gland and the spleen can be approached with laparoscopic surgical techniques. The spleen makes lymphocytes, a small white blood cell. And it also makes antibodies. So the function of the spleen is to respond to infection and the filter the blood of worn out blood cells. Although this can affect red blood cells and also white blood cells, it most commonly affects platelets.
Platelets are little cell-like blood components which help the blood to clot.
In some situations like this, the best treatment is removal of the spleen. Traditionally, removal of the spleen has required a large abdominal incision and direct removal of the spleen. Now, surgeons at Allegheny General Hospital can remove the spleen using minimally invasive surgical techniques. The adrenal glands are occasionally the site a small tumors which cause high blood pressure or other endocrine problems. The definitive treatment for these is removal of the adrenal gland containing the growth.