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Laparoscopic appendectomy for mucocele of the appendix: Report of 8 cases

Muthukumaran Rangarajan1, Chinnusamy Palanivelu, Alfie Jose Kavalakat

  • 1GEM Hospital, 45-A Pankaja Mill Road, Ramnathapuram, Coimbatore 641 045, India. rangy68@gmail.com

Indian Journal of Gastroenterology : Official Journal of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology
|November 9, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Mucocele of the appendix, a rare condition, is best treated with surgical excision. Laparoscopic appendectomy is preferred for benign cases, with careful specimen handling to prevent metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology and Surgical Oncology

Background:

  • Mucocele of the appendix is an aseptic dilatation caused by obstruction.
  • Appendiceal mucocele incidence is 0.15% at our center, based on 6000 appendectomies over 8 years.

Observation:

  • Nine cases of appendiceal mucocele were surgically treated.
  • Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in 8 cases; open surgery was necessary for one patient with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Findings:

  • Benign mucocele requires surgical excision, with laparoscopic appendectomy being the preferred minimally invasive approach.
  • Examination of concurrent tumors and use of a non-permeable bag for specimen removal are crucial due to malignancy risk and port-site metastasis.

Implications:

  • Minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopic appendectomy are feasible for appendiceal mucocele.
  • Careful surgical technique, including contained specimen retrieval, is vital to mitigate risks associated with potential appendiceal malignancy.

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