title: [The transvaginal approach in acute appendicitis].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this work is to present 8 minilaparoscopic-assisted transvaginal appendectomies using rigid instruments in patients with acute appendicitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight minilaparoscopic-assisted transvaginal appendectomies were performed from the 10th of August 2009 to the 30th of June 2010. The inclusion criteria were women between 18 and 65 years of age with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The exclusion criteria were palpable masses, appendicular abscesses, ASA III and IV; morbid obesity (BMI > 35); gynaecological infections; virgin patients and pregnant women. The surgical intervention was performed with rigid instruments. Surgical time, the need for post-operative analgesics, and post-surgical complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age range varied between 18 and 42 years, with a mean of 29.6 years. The mean surgical time was 48.3 minutes (37-75). Analgesics were given to 2 patients after surgery (1 parenteral and 1 oral). Five patients were discharged before 24 hours and 3 at 48 hours. There were no post-operative complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minilaparoscopic-assisted transvaginal appendectomy with rigid instruments, in selected women is a feasible and safe method, and with better aesthetic results than laparoscopic appendectomy, but future studies will be required that can demonstrate its advantages.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Provincial Docente Abel Santamaría Cuadrado, Ciudad de Pinar del Río, Provincia de Pinar del Río, Cuba. castro@princesa.pri.sld.cu
authors.forename: Raúl Castro
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Luis Ramón Acosta
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Eduardo Dopico
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Juan Carlos Delgado
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Luis Enrique Robaina
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: Martha Oriolo
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Estrada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina; D055815:Young Adult