Minilaparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis.
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.
Di Lorenzo
Nicola
N
Department of Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata Rome, Italy. nicola.di.lorenzo@uniroma2.it
Manzelli
Antonio
A
Coscarella
Giorgio
G
Pietrantuono
Maurizio
M
Jarzembowski
Tomasz Marek
TM
Fisichella
Piero Marco
PM
Gaspari
Achille Lucio
AL
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