title: Needlescopic appendectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this paper, we compare our experience with the techniques of needlescopic appendectomy (NA) (2-mm instruments) for the treatment of acute appendicitis with the more conventional approach of a laparoscopic appendectomy (LA).
  
  
  METHODS
  We did a retrospective review of patients who underwent NA for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis between August 1996 and January 2002. Variables including operative time, blood loss, postoperative time to discharge, intra- and postoperative complications were analyzed and compared to data from control patients who had undergone an LA for acute appendicitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NA group had a longer average operating time (54.5 +/- l3 vs. 42.5 +/- 12.6 min, p = 0.0001) and a longer postoperative hospital stay (2.1 +/- 1.4 vs. 1.3 +/- 1.1 days, p = 0.01). Blood loss was similar for the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the exception of superior cosmesis, NA appears to have little advantage over the better-established LA; moreover, it has some disadvantages. A clearer benefit of this procedure over LA, as well as improvements in instrumentation, needs to be shown before it can be widely accepted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Texas Endosurgery Institute, 4242 E. Southcross Blvd., Suite # 1, San Antonio, TX 78222, USA. achock2121@yahoo.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chock
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seslar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stoopen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tristan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashish
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Franklin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020706:Laparoscopes; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D018583:Pliability; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome