[Laparoscopic appendectomies in pediatric patients using Hem-o-lock clips]

Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency of acute abdomen in children, principally at school age and teenagers. Patients are most often treated surgically to remove the appendix, either through a standard small incision in the right lower part of the abdomen or laparoscopically. The current is a retrospective study about the experience of a group of surgeons from the Fundación Hospitalaria--Buenos Aires Private Children Hospital who performed 40 laparoscopic appendectomies in patients under 18 years of age. The data registered and analysed belonged to patients with acute appendicitis diagnosis who underwent closure of the appendicular base with Hem-o-lock clips (Weck Closure Systems, Triangle Park, NC, USA). Our main objective was to describe an alternative technique for the ligation of the appendicular stump with the intrinsic benefits of the minimally invasive procedures. The results obtained at last, were comparable to those reported in the cientific literature. As a conclusion the laparoscopic closure of the appendicular base with nonabsorbable polymer clips is a fast, safe and easily reproducible alternative to conventional surgery in childrens.