A MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUE OF APPENDECTOMY USING A MINIMAL SKIN INCISION AND LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS

To take advantage of the laparoscopic procedure, a new minimally invas ive technique of appendectomy for nonobese and uncomplicated appendici tis is presented. Initially, diagnostic laparoscopy is performed throu gh a minimal skin incision (microceliotomy) 1.5-2.0 cm in length in th e right lower abdomen to rule out other disease. Then an appendectomy is performed using conventional surgical instruments under direct visi on through the previous skin incision. There were 18 women and 12 men in this series. The mean age was 22.6 years. Pathologic findings of th e appendix were: 2 normal, 13 catarrhal, 10 suppurative, and 5 gangren ous type. The mean operation time was 30.7 min. The mean frequency of postoperative analgesic requirement (nalbuphine 0.2 mg/kg) was 0.9 tim es. The mean hospital stay was 4.1 days (range, 2-7 days), and the dur ation until return to full activity was 7.6 days (range, 5-14 days). T here was no mortality or morbidity. This appendectomy technique is a u seful method for minimizing the postoperative pain and operative scar, thus allowing the patient an early return to full activity.