Laparoscopic appendectomy in children can be done as a fast-track or same-day surgery.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic surgery has reduced the length of hospital stay for common operations like cholecystectomy, gastric fundoplication, and appendectomy. We have noticed a reduction in length of hospital stay for children undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. We, therefore, looked at our data to assess whether laparoscopic appendectomy in children could be performed as fast-track or same-day surgery (< or = 24-hour postoperative stay).


METHODS
We performed a retrospective review of the records of all children who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy for suspected appendicitis during a 3-year period (7/97 to 7/00).


RESULTS
Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 79 children (44 boys and 35 girls), between 2 to 17 years of age (mean, 11 years). In 4 (5%) children with perforated appendicitis, the laparoscopic appendectomy was converted to an open appendectomy. At operation, 51 (64.5%) had acute appendicitis, 22 (27.8%) had perforated appendicitis, 4 (5%) had ruptured ovarian cysts, and 2 (2.5%) had no pathology. The median operative time was 54 minutes. Total length of stay for all 79 patients was a median of 58 hours, and median postoperative LOS was 35 hours. Complications included wound infection (2), abdominal abscess (4), drug rash (2), and epididymo-orchitis (1). In 57 (72%) children without perforated appendicitis, the total length of hospital stay was a median of 42 hours, while median postoperative length of stay was only 28 hours. Thirty-two (56%) children went home in < or = 24 hours following laparoscopic appendectomy. No significant morbidity was noted in the nonperforated group (drug rash, 1 fever > 24 hrs, 3); and no readmissions or reoperations were necessary on follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and effective for treating children with appendicitis. Laparoscopic appendectomy may be safely performed as fast-track or same-day surgery, in select children without perforated appendicitis, with a postoperative stay of < or = 24 hours.
Grewal
Harsh
H
Section of Pediatric Surgery, Temple University Children's Medical Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. grewalh@tuhs.temple.edu
Sweat
Jeffrey
J
Vazquez
W David
WD
D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010048:Ovarian Cysts / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies