ENDOSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY - PREPARATION TECHNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND RESULTS FROM 950 LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMIES

In a prospective study 950 appendectomies were done consecutively from may 1992 to September 1997. When indication for appendectomy was give n all patients were operated on endoscopically. In 5.5 % of cases had to be turned to open operation. 17 different surgeons are involved. Ev en the first appendectomy in adjucation of young residents was done en doscopically. 372 (39.15 %) male and 578 (60.85 %) female patients wer e operated. Average age was 25.3 years (4 to 84 years). In 11 % of cas es so-called chronic recurrent appenditicis as indication was accepted only after careful exclusion of other reasons for complaint. Mean dur ation of operation time was 44.5 min (15 to 170 min). Hospital stay wa s influenced subjectively 6.1 day (1 to 19 days). Examination of speci men by the pathologist shows following results: perforated appendiciti s 7%; acute appendicitis 50 %; chronic recurrent 33 %; no pathologic c hanges 9 %; carcinoide or oxyures 1 %. The Postoperative complication rate was very small: only 2.7 % (relaparotomy because of small bowel o bstruction: 4, paracolic abscess after severe phlegmonic inflammation: 4, infected haematomas: 2, relaparotomy because of unobserved deverti cula of Meckel with seven inflammation: 1, delayed woundhealing: 8, po stoperative pain with duration long than: 24 hours: 7).