Value of laparoscopic appendectomy in perforated appendicitis.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic appendectomy in patients with perforated appendicitis.


METHODS
This study involved a total of 73 consecutive patients who had undergone appendectomy for perforated appendicitis between January 1999 and December 2004. While 39 patients underwent open appendectomy (OA) during the first 3 years, the remaining 34 patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) during the last 3 years.


RESULTS
There was no case of LA converted to OA. No significant difference was found in the operating time between the two groups. Laparoscopic appendectomy was associated with less analgesic use, earlier oral intake restart (LA, 2.6 days; OA, 5.1 days), shorter median hospital stay (LA, 11.7 days; OA, 25.8 days), and lower rate of wound infections (LA, 8.8%; OA, 43.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that LA for perforated appendicitis is a safe procedure that may prove to have significant clinical advantages over conventional surgery.
Fukami
Yasuyuki
Y
Department of Surgery, Nagoya Daini Red Cross Hospital, Nagoya, 466-8650, Japan. y149004@siz.saiseikai.or.jp
Hasegawa
Hiroshi
H
Sakamoto
Eiji
E
Komatsu
Shunichiro
S
Hiromatsu
Takashi
T
D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome