Publication:

Retrospective analysis of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for the treatment of acute appendicitis

Background Acute appendicitis is one of the most commonly encountered emergency by the general surgeons and appendectomy is the most common surgery performed in the world. Although open appendectomy is preferred by many surgeons, yet the laparoscopic approach is gradually replacing open surgery for treatment of acute appendicitis.

Methods A total of 400 patients of acute appendicitis were operated, 200 by laparoscopic appendectomy and 200 by open method by a single surgeon at various private hospitals in Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir), India over a period of three years from July 2017 to July 2020. The two groups were compared with respect to operative time, duration of hospital stay, post-operative pain, complication rate and time taken to resume routine activity and cosmetic satisfaction of the patients.

Results Results were found to be better with the laparoscopic technique. There was significantly less pain in the postoperative period with faster recovery, early resumption to work, reduced postoperative complications and better cosmetic satisfaction of the patients operated by the laparoscopic appendectomy technique as compared to open surgery.

Conclusions Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and feasible technique in expert hands, for treatment of acute appendicitis with results comparable to the open appendectomy, with no obvious increase in complications and is definitely a procedure of choice for the management of acute appendicitis.