Laparoscopic appendectomy by ultrasonically activated scalpel in acute appendicitis: preliminary report.
OBJECTIVE
Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is increasingly being used in treating acute appendicitis. New instruments such as the ultrasonically activated scalpel (UAS) have been introduced for most laparoscopic procedures. We evaluated the use of UAS in the performance of LA, as the potential of this instrument in this type of surgery remains to be defined.


METHODS
Three patients with acute right lower abdominal pain were managed by the laparoscopic approach. Once the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was established, laparoscopic appendectomy was performed with the UAS.


RESULTS
The mean operative time was 42.3 minutes (range 32-49 minutes). There were no complications related to the treatment with UAS of either the vascular pedicle or the appendicecal stump. No electrosurgical coagulation, clips, loops, or endostapler was used in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Total LA performed with UAS is feasible. Use of the UAS may make dissection and resection of the appendix easier, helping to reduce the mean operative time.
Martín del Olmo
J C
JC
Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Medina del Campo Hospital, Valladolid, Spain. ucalid@hmdc.insalud.es
Blanco Alvarez
J I
JI
Carbajo Caballero
M A
MA
de la Cuesta de la Llave
C
C
Vaquero Puerta
C
C
Arenal
J
J
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014465:Ultrasonics