title: Minilaparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minilaparoscopic appendectomy for appendicitis is not a well-established procedure. This approach provides less abdominal wall trauma, fewer complications, and excellent cosmetic results. Our aim was to show the feasibility and safety of the minilaparoscopic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Minilaparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 37 patients. Two 2.2-mm trocars were used to manipulate a 2.2-mm, 0-degree laparoscope and for grasper access. A 5-mm trocar was used for the ultrasonic scalpel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No deaths occurred. In 3 patients (8%), appendectomy was aborted due to pathology of the ovary. Conversion to the open approach occurred in 2.7% of patients. The average operating time was 34 minutes (range, 15 to 80), and the median length of hospital stay was 1.2 day (range, 1 to 5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The minilaparoscopic approach a) has the same advantages as the conventional laparoscopic approach in terms of better diagnostic accuracy and safety; b) a low incidence of complications; and c) yields excellent cosmetic results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata Rome, Italy. nicola.di.lorenzo@uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manzelli
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coscarella
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietrantuono
authors.forename: Tomasz Marek
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Jarzembowski
authors.forename: Piero Marco
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Fisichella
authors.forename: Achille Lucio
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gaspari
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged