IS LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY THE NEW GOLD STANDARD

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of laparoscopic appendectomy com pared with open appendectomy in patients with acute appendicitis and t o compare the morbidity between the two groups. Design: Prospective sa mpling of 102 patients who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy and laparo scopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis and retrospective hospital chart review of 204 patients who underwent open appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Results The mean+/-SD duration of surgery was 83+/-29 m inutes in the laparoscopic group and 64+/-30 minutes in the open appen dectomy group (P<.001). Hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group (P<.04). There was no difference in the complication rate betwee n the patients who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy (13%) and the p atients who underwent open appendectomy (11%). The occurrence of posto perative ileus was correlated with the duration of operation (P<.01) b ut not with laparoscopic appendectomy. Conclusions: The results confir m that laparoscopic appendectomy had a longer time of surgery, a short er hospital stay, and no difference in complications. Further investig ation will likely establish that laparoscopic appendectomy can be cons idered the ''gold standard.''