Video-assisted extracorporeal appendectomy.
BACKGROUND
Despite many randomized controlled trials, there are still several important doubts about laparoscopic appendectomy. Longer operative time and greater cost are the two major disadvantages of the laparoscopic technique.


METHODS
In current techniques of laparoscopic appendectomy, the appendix is ligated and divided within the abdominal cavity. We have performed 423 laparoscopic appendectomies using an extracorporeal technique during the last 8 years. In this technique, the appendix is delivered to the surface through the cannula, and appendectomy is carried out extracorporally.


CONCLUSIONS
The extracorporeal technique of appendix removal can be performed as safely and efficiently as the open technique. We report our data on the series of 423 operations, in which we had the encouraging experience that the video-assisted extracorporeal technique is a practical and reasonable alternative to the traditional laparoscopic technique.
Tekin
Ahmet
A
Department of Surgery, Mersin State Hospital, Turkey. i.m.c@superonline.com
Kurtoğlu
H Cemal
HC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery