Laparoscopic appendectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic appendectomy in women with chronic pelvic pain and to identify histopathology of the appendix.


METHODS
Retrospective review over 6.5 years (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).


METHODS
Laparoscopic center and community hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred seventeen women.


METHODS
Laparoscopic appendectomy in conjunction with other procedures.


RESULTS
Of 317 patients who underwent appendectomy, 14 (4.4%) had involvement of the appendix with endometriosis, 12 (3.78%) had early acute appendicitis, 4 (1.26%) had carcinoid tumors of the appendix, 2 (0.63%) had a large mucocele, and 1 (0.9%) each had Enterobius vermicularis infection, benign neuroma, and mucinous cystadenoma. Seventy-eight women (24.6%) had obliteration of the appendiceal lumen and 22 (6.93%) had entrapping fibrous adhesions. Thirty-two patients (10%) reported relief of chronic pelvic pain in the absence of other pathology just by having diagnostic laparoscopy with appendectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
The appendix is a key organ in the evaluation of undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain.
Chattanooga Women's Laser Center, 1604 Gunbarrel Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421, USA.
Neena
N
Agarwala
C Y
CY
Liu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001065:Appendix / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome