[Results of laparoscopic treatment of complicated appendicitis]

Laparoscopic appendectomy in children is a generally accepted procedure for the treatment of non-complicated acute appendicitis. Nevertheless, the role of laparoscopy in complicated cases is controversial. We show our experience with 40 cases of complicated acute appendicitis treated by means laparoscopy between February 2000 and October 2002. In every case we used 3 ports, one umbilical and the other two in both lower quadrants. The appendix was gangrenous in 31 patients and in the other 9 was perforated. Appendectomy was performed in an extracorporeal way in most of the cases. Average surgical time was 71 minutes and mean hospital stay was 8.8 days. Intraoperative complications occurred in 8 cases (20%) and postoperative complications were observed in 9 patients (22.5%). Four patients were reoperated (2 open and 2 laparoscopic) in order to drain two abscesses and treat two obstructions. The results of this serie is compared with another group of 40 complicated appendicitis operated in a classic open way in the same period of time. Postoperative complications were less often in the laparoscopic group. Oral intake, need for analgesia and hospital stay are more favorable in the laparoscopic group.