INITIAL EXPERIENCE WITH LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY

As experience with laparoscopy increases, new applications in general surgery are being identified. Treatment of acute appendicitis through the laparoscope has been proposed. We present our initial experience w ith this new technique. Over a 12-month period, laparoscopic appendect omy was attempted in 29 patients. There were no intraoperative complic ations. Two cases required conversion to the open technique owing to g angrene at the appendiceal base. The average operating time was 64 min utes. Two of nine patients with perforated appendicitis developed a pe lvic abscess, and one patient developed wound cellulitis. Pain medicat ion requirements were minimal, bowel function returned rapidly, and ha lf of the patients were discharged on postoperative day one or two and returned to normal activity within one week. Based on our initial exp erience, it appears that laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe and effec tive technique for managing acute appendicitis and offers advantages i n terms of decreased pain, decreased hospital stay, and a rapid return to normal activities.