Open versus laparoscopic appendectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To asses the role of laparoscopic appendectomy in the treatment of acute as well as chronic appendicitis on the basis of our own experiences.


METHODS
From the set of 849 patients treated with appendectomy (from January 1993 to December 2000) 331 were singled out, i.e.; those unable to work for some time and thus being on sickness benefit who asked for a medical certificate. They were operated on for either acute or chronic appendicitis.


RESULTS
In our set of 331 patients (158 males, 173 females, the average age 29.4) open appendectomy was performed on 179 patients and laparoscopic appendectomy on 152. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 43 males (28%) and 109 females (72%); open appendectomy in 115 males (64%) and 64 females (36%). Laparoscopic appendectomy took 53.7 +/- 18.1 minutes, open appendectomy took 43.6 +/- 8.99 minutes. The time of work disablement is longer in open appendectomy (open appendectomy: 41.2 +/- 9.91 days; laparoscopic appendectomy; 29.1 +/- 15.11 days). A significant difference (p < 0.00001) can be seen in the length of hospitalization (laparoscopic appendectomy: 5.0 +/- 2.75 days, open appendectomy: 8.3 +/- 2.83 days).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who undergo laparoscopic appendectomy spent less time in hospital, and they can return to work rather earlier. On the other hand the time of surgery is longer. Higher cost is compensated for with shorter hospitalization and early return to work.
2nd Department of Surgery, Teaching Hospital Palacky University Olomouc, I.P. Pavlova 6, 775 20 Olomouc, Czech Republic. hermanj@post.cz
J
J
Herman
M
M
Duda
M
M
Lovecek
I
I
Svach
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male