Table 1.

Characteristics of included studies.

First author and Journal (year)	Regions	Enrollment period	Study design	Study population	Surgery	Number of patients
Kakinoki Surg Today (2013) Full-text [17]	Kagawa, Japan	February 2008–April 2011	Prospective	Consecutive patients with LC and hypersplenism. Detailed indications were as follows: a bleeding tendency (n = 3), induction of interferon therapy (n = 8), difficulties in therapies for HCC due to thrombocytopenia (n = 12), and esophagogastric varices (n = 5).	Hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy	28
Kawanaka Ann Surg (2010) Full-text [18]	Fukuoka, Japan	January 2005–December 2005 (1st period); January 2006–July 2006 (2nd period)	2-period, prospective cohort study	Consecutive patients with LC and hypersplenism. Detailed indications were as follows: bleeding tendency due to thrombocytopenia (n = 7), difficulties in the induction or continuation of pegylated interferon therapy plus ribavirin due to thrombocytopenia (n = 29), difficulties with therapies for HCC due to thrombocytopenia (n = 7), and endoscopic treatment-resistant esophagogastric varices (n = 7).	Laparoscopic splenectomy	50
Lai World J Gastroenterol (2012) Full-text [19]	Beijing, China	April 2004–July 2010	Retrospective	Patients with PH, splenomegaly, and hypersplenism. Detailed indications were as follows: hypersplenism and recurrent upper GI bleeding (236 patients had a history of upper GI bleeding).	Splenectomy with gastroesophageal devascularization	301
Ma Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi (2008) Full-text [20]	Xi'an, China	July 2004–August 2005	RCT	Patients with LC and PH.	Splenectomy and pericardial devascularization	76
Pan J Gastroenterol Hepatol (2011) Abstract [21]	Guangzhou, China	March 1999–June 2005	Retrospective	Patients with PH in LC from hepatitis.	Simple splenectomy, splenectomy and EVL, splenectomy and porta-azygous devascularization	112
Svensson Eur J Haematol (2006) Full-text [22]	Stockholm, Sweden	January 1999–December 2003	Retrospective	Adult patients, age ≧20 yr, who underwent splenectomy for haematological disorders.	Laparoscopic splenectomy (n = 39); open splenectomy (n = 30)	69
Wang Can J Surg (2011) Full-text [23]	Alberta, Canada	November 2006–November 2008	2-centre, phase II, prospective, open-label, parallel-assignment RCT	No detailed information regarding eligible patients. Patients requiring splenectomy due to various causes (hematological diseases).	Laparoscopic splenectomy	29∗
Xue Zhonghua Wai Ke Za Zhi (2000) Full-text [24]	Zhengzhou, China	June 1995–June 1999	RCT	HBV-related LC patients with PH, upper GI bleeding, splenomegaly, and hypersplenism.	Splenectomy with porta-azygous devascularization	71

Notes: ∗35 participants were enrolled in this RCT. But 6 participants were excluded, because 4 withdrew from the study, 1 required conversion to an open approach, and 1 died at 3 postoperative months from myocardial infarction that was unrelated to the procedure or study medication.

Abbreviations: EVL: endoscopic variceal ligation; GI: gastrointestinal; HBV: hepatitis B virus; LC: liver cirrhosis; PH: portal hypertension; and RCT: randomized controlled trial.