[Laparoscopic appendectomy versus open appendectomy in suspected acute appendicitis in female patients]

The aim of the study is to analyse the own data and try to discuss if laparoscopic appendectomy offers any advantages in treating young women suffering from pain in right lower abfdominal quadrant.

The study was conducted on 148 patients admitted from October 1993 to December 1998 with diagnosis of of pain in right iliac fossa and operated on with a laparoscopic (LA group: 75 cases) or open approach (OA group: 73 cases). Patients were prospectively randomized on the surgical approach adopted, following a randomized list.

The operative time in LA group was significantly (p < 0.001) longer (87.2 minutes) than for OA group (65.2 minutes). In 2 patients (2.7%) the operation had to be converted. Diagnosis had remained unknown in 16 patients (21.9%) of OA group, in spite of only one case (1.4%) with laparoscopic technique. We didn't observed intraoperative complications. Pain in the first and second postoperative days, evaluated on the use of pain medication, was significantly less in patients in group LA (p < 0.01). There were no deaths. Postoperative complications occurred in 4 patients (5.5%) of group LA, and in 8 patients (10.9%) of group OA. Hospital stay was significantly shorter for those having laparoscopic appendectomy (p < 0.001).

The main advantages of laparoscopic appendectomy consist more in diagnostic accuracy, than in less postoperative pain, less hospital stay and less postoperative complications.

Laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe and accurate approach.