title: Laparoscopic interval appendectomy for periappendicular abscess.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic appendectomy was first described in the early 1980s and is currently widely used for the treatment of acute appendicitis. The application of laparoscopic techniques to interval appendectomy and the value of this procedure as compared to open elective interval appendectomy remains uncertain. Therefore, we set out to assess the usefulness of interval laparoscopic appendectomy following periappendicular abscess.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzes the data for 10 patients who underwent interval laparoscopic appendectomy 8-10 weeks following documented periappendicular abscess in the period between January 1996 and June 1998.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Laparoscopic appendectomy was completed successfully in all 10 patients. Nine patients were discharged 1 day after the operation; one patient was discharged on the evening of the operative day. There were no complications and no wound infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the laparoscopic approach is the preferable treatment for interval appendectomy. It is associated with minimal or no morbidity and a very short hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery and Transplantation, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lidar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuriansky
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shabtai
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayalon
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors