Is Laparoscopic Appendectomy a Safe Procedure? A Single Surgeon Experience at a University Hospital

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and benefits of laparoscopic appendectomy performed by a single surgeon at a university hospital and compare the results with other similar studies. The medical records of 113 patients with suspected appendicitis who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy (January 2003 to December 2004) were analyzed for demographic information, clinical findings, laboratory / ultrasound results, intraoperative diagnosis, clinicopathologic correlation, complications, incidental findings, and operative time. A pelvic ultrasound was done for 36 (31.8%) patients. All patients received prophylactic antibiotics and none had drain. All appendices were removed whether they were inflamed or not. Pregnant patients were excluded from this study. There were 60 males and 53 females; with mean age 24.05 years. The mean operative time was 62.21 minutes. Conversion to open appendectomy was done in 8 (7.1%) patients. Post-operative complications occurred in 14 (12.4%) patients. The appendix was inflamed in 102 (90.26%) patients. The mean hospital stay was 2.35 days and there was no mortality. Laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe procedure with acceptable complications without mortality. It is advocated as the procedure of choice for patients with suspected appendicitis.