PURPOSE To further improve the advantages of minimally invasive surgery, single port laparoscopic techniques continue to be developed. We report our initial experience with single port laparoscopic appendectomy (SPLA) in children and compare its outcomes to those of conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA). METHODS Clinical data were prospectively collected for SPLA cases performed at Chu...

The management of acute appendicitis during pregnancy is not fully established, especially regarding the choice between open and laparoscopic surgery during the third trimester. We report herein the case of a major uterine variecele hemorrhage during a laparoscopic appendectomy in a 27-year old pregnant patient at 33 weeks of amenorrhea. After conversion to a Pfannenstiel incision, the baby was...

BACKGROUND Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is widely used and generally an accepted method for managing appendicitis. And the recent invention of laparoscopic trans-umbilical-appendectomy is a further improvement of LA. However, it requires expensive instruments with the requisite expertise. We discuss a useful modification of trans-umbilical appendectomy for acute appendicitis using routine ins...

BACKGROUND Complicated appendicitis (gangrenous or perforated) has been associated with increased risk for postoperative complications, especially intraabdominal abscess. Caution has been advised when attempting laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis in children. The objective of our study was to assess the incidence of intraabdominal abscess formation after laparoscopic appende...

BACKGROUND The objective of the study was to compare the outcomes of patients with generalised purulent peritonitis from complicated appendicitis diagnosed intraoperatively who were managed laparoscopically to those managed via the open approach in a single institution. METHOD Data were collected from all cases admitted at Sebokeng Hospital, Johannesburg, over the past two years (2008 and 200...

We present a case of laparoscopic transumbilical single incision appendectomy. A 17-year-old patient with an insidious onset of symptoms 4 months ago by diffuse abdominal pain that later was localized in the right iliac fossa accompanied by loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Following clinical examination and abdominal ultrasound, she was diagnosed with chronic appendicitis and surgical tre...