Laparoscopic appendicectomy: the ideal procedure for laparoscopic skill training for surgical registrars.
OBJECTIVE
Appendicectomy is a very common surgical procedure performed by registrars. It is mainly carried out by surgical registrars as an open procedure in many government hospitals. We aimed to evaluate laparoscopic appendicectomy as a laparoscopic training skill in a clinical setting for our registrars.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of all attempted laparoscopic appendicectomies over 12 months by experienced surgeons and registrars was done. Factors evaluated were operating time, conversion rate, postoperative hospital stay, morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in operating time for surgeons and registrars (mean, 53 minutes vs. 60 minutes), conversion rate (10% vs. 11%). Mean hospital stay for patients operated on by surgeons was 3.1 days and 3.2 days for registrars. Morbidity was equal with both surgeons and registrars.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that laparoscopic appendicectomy is a safe laparoscopic training tool for registrars with basic laparoscopic knowledge who have had a proper apprenticeship, and can be done in a clinical setting.
Tata
Mahadevan D
MD
Department of Surgery, Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
Singh
Ranjit
R
Bakar
Azrina A
AA
Selvindoss
Paul
P
P
Kandasami
K
Gurunathan
Ramesh
R
D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008296:Malaysia; D012189:Retrospective Studies