Wound infection in open versus laparoscopic appendectomy. A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency.
• Wound infection is a known complication of appendectomy.
• Comparing surgical approaches is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if laparoscopic appendectomy reduces wound infection incidence compared to open appendectomy.
• To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials on appendectomy techniques.
• To inform clinical practice regarding the optimal surgical approach for acute appendicitis.

Main Methods:

• Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
• Inclusion of eight trials with a total of seven patients.
• Data analysis using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effect model.

Main Results:

• Lower incidence of wound infection observed in the laparoscopic appendectomy group.
• Statistical significance of the observed difference was evaluated.
• Consistent findings across included studies.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with a reduced risk of wound infection in adult patients with acute appendicitis.
• Minimally invasive surgery offers advantages in reducing surgical site infections.
• Evidence supports the use of laparoscopic techniques for improved patient safety.