[Acute appendicitis--laparoscopic appendectomy--indications and outcomes].
Laparoscopic surgery has been proposed to have diagnostic and therapeutic advantages over conventional surgery.


RESULTS
Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) is a safe procedure resulting in shorter hospitalization and sooner return to activity. The relative merits of LA and open appendectomy (OA) are evaluated in this review. There were no differences in postoperative analgesia, resumption of oral intake, or morbidity, but laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with longer operating times and increased cost. Laparoscopic appendectomy is a more expensive alternative but offers advantages related to pain relief, length of stay, return to normal activities, or morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
In those clinical settings where surgical expertise and equipment are available and affordable, diagnostic laparoscopy and LA (either in combination or separately) seem to have various advantages over OA.
Weiner
R A
RA
MIC-Zentrum Frankfurt, Krankenhaus Sachsenhausen, Schulstrasse 31, 60594 Frankfurt am Main.
Blanco
Engert R
ER
Weiner
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*
Akute Appendizitis--Laparoskopische Appendektomie--Indikation und Ergebnisse.