LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY, IS IT WORTH IT

The recent experience with open appendectomy was compared to our initi al experience with laparoscopic appendectomy. Thirty-eight patients ha d open appendectomy for acute appendicitis. Two major and four minor c omplications occurred. Concurrently, 39 patients had laparoscopic appe ndectomy. There was one major and one minor complication. Of the lapar oscopic patients, 69% received less than 24 hours of parenteral postop erative analgesia, compared to 44% of the patients in the open group. Fifteen of 39 laparoscopic patients (38%) were discharged within 24 ho urs of operation versus 3 of 38 (8%) in the open group. Total mean hos pital cost for the laparoscopic group, $7,500, was significantly great er than for the open group, $5,700, because of increased laparoscopic equipment charges. Both open and laparoscopic appendectomy procedures were performed with minimal morbidity. The benefits of laparoscopy wer e earlier hospital discharge and less parenteral analgesic use, but it was significantly more expensive.