DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEMS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS AND INDICATIONS FOR LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY

A retrospective study analyzing the outcome of 400 appendectomies for acute appendicitis in two different hospitals revealed a negative appe ndectomy rate of over 25 %. As a consequence we altered the operative strategy by employing diagnostic laparoscopy in combination with lapar oscopic appendectomy in all uncertain cases while still carrying out a conventional appendectomy when there was diagnostic certainty. Prelim inary results show that laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe procedure and that the new concept reduces the negative appendectomy rate.