A prospective treatment protocol for outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis

Area of Science:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Surgical Outcomes
• Patient Management

Background:

• Laparoscopic appendectomy often requires hospitalization despite widespread outpatient laparoscopic procedures.
• A novel outpatient protocol was developed to assess feasibility and safety for laparoscopic appendectomy.
• The study aimed to increase outpatient management for appendicitis without adverse outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of an outpatient protocol for laparoscopic appendectomy.
• To determine if outpatient management increases without compromising patient safety.
• To compare outcomes of outpatient vs. inpatient laparoscopic appendectomy.

Main Methods:

• A prospective outpatient protocol for laparoscopic appendectomy was implemented.
• Patients were compared to a historical control group for analysis.
• Demographics, comorbidities, outpatient rates, and morbidity were assessed using chi-square analysis.

Main Results:

• Outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy rates significantly increased from 35.3% to 85.3% (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences in patient demographics or comorbidities were observed.
• Postoperative morbidity rates were similar between groups (5.2% vs. 8.4%), with no readmissions or mortalities in the protocol group.

Conclusions:

• An outpatient protocol for laparoscopic appendectomy significantly boosts outpatient management rates.
• This protocol demonstrated no increase in patient morbidity or mortality.
• Outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy is now standard care at the institution.