title: Laparoscopic appendectomy in the elderly: our experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the world. We aimed to compare laparoscopic and open appendectomy in the elderly in our experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective review of elderly patients who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis from 1st of January 2006 to the 31st of July 2012. We analyzed 39 appendectomies in elderly patients: 20 procedures were performed using open technique (Group O) and 19 using laparoscopic technique (Group L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the analysis of intraoperative variables there was no statistically significant difference. In this study there was no statistically significant difference also in peri-operative variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe and feasible technique in acute appendicitis also in the elderly.
authors.forename: Alessia G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enrico
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marola
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solej
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000379:methods*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies