Laparoscopic Versus Open Appendicectomy for Acute Appendicitis: A Comparative Study

Ulas Khan, Sameeah Hanif, Muhammad Nawaz

Abstract

Objective 

To compare laparoscopic versus open appendectomy procedures in terms of hospital stay, operative time, time to return to normal activity and complications

Study design

Retrospective comparative study.

Place & Duration of study

Department of Surgery DHQ Abbottabad, from February 2019 to April 2020.

Methodology

Patients of age group between 15 years to 55 years were included in the study. They were divided into two groups, laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) groups. Groups were compared for postoperative complications, operative time, hospital stay, and time taken to return to normal activities.

Results 

Eighty patients were included in the study with 40 in each group. Mean duration of hospital stay in LA group was 1.75±0.63 days while in OA it was 2.8±0.96 days. Mean operative time in LA group was 57.15±10.2 min while in OA it was 27.27±8.7 min. Time to return to normal activity in LA group was 13.4±1.63 days while in OA group 19.8±3.8 days. Complications in LA group were reported in 2 (5%) patients and 7 (17.5%) in open group. Wound infection was the most common complication in open group found in 5 (12.5%) patients.

Conclusion

In laparoscopic group there was less frequency of wound infection, shorter hospital stay, patients returned to normal activity early but with more operating time than in open appendectomy.

Key words

Laparoscopic appendicectomy, Open appendicectomy, Appendicitis, Minimally invasive surgery.