title: Laparoscopic appendicectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility and morbidity of laparoscopic appendicectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Open study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkla, Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  31 consecutive patients who presented with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic appendicectomy through three abdominal punctures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Duration of operation, amount of analgesia, length of stay in hospital, and morbidity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean duration of operation was 47 minutes, median (range) length of stay in hospital was 2 (1-5) days, and there were no complications during or after the operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic appendicectomy is safe, the stay in hospital is short, patients recover quickly, with little pain and the cosmetic result is good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Charoonratana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chansawang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maipang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Totemchokchyakarn
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome