Laparoscopic appendectomy is feasible for the complicated appendicitis

We reviewed the results of 339 consecutive appendectomies, including perforated appendicitis, to assess the advantages of the laparoscopic approach for acute appendicitis. Three hundred and eighty-eight patients underwent appendectomy at the Keimyung University Kyungju Dongsan Hospital between March 1994 and June 1996; 339 patients were treated using laparoscopic appendectomy (LA), and 49 patients who were treated with open appendectomy. Special emphasis was given to the results of LA in 27 patients with perforated appendicitis. The mean duration of the operating time for LA was 48.9 minutes. For six patients (1.8%), the procedure was converted to open surgery. Minor complications developed in eight patients (2.4%). There were no complications in the 27 patients with perforated appendicitis. Our experience with LA in perforated appendicitis is limited, but our results show that LA is a safe and acceptable procedure for all forms of acute appendicitis.