Appendix extraction after laparoscopic appendectomy in children: An easy, safe, and inexpensive technique
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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
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Published on: February 28, 2025
Mario Mendoza-Sagaon1, Flurim Hamitaga1, Yannick Hurni1
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ospedale Regionale Bellinzona e Valli, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland.
Insights
Pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy can be improved with a novel technique using a glove finger to safely remove the appendix. This method minimizes contamination and surgical site complications in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Techniques
Background:
- Laparoscopic appendectomy is increasingly common in children.
- Protecting the retrieval site during appendectomy is crucial to prevent contamination.
- Existing methods for retrieval site protection have limitations, including cost and wound complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a safe, inexpensive, and simple technique for appendix removal during pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using a glove finger for appendix retrieval.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 291 pediatric laparoscopic appendectomies performed between 2004 and 2015.
- Appendix retrieval using the cut end of a surgical glove's finger.
Main Results:
- The technique was successfully used in all 291 cases (ages 2-16).
- No intraoperative complications were associated with the glove finger technique.
- A very low rate of wound complications (0.34%) was observed.
Conclusions:
- The glove finger technique is an effective method for safe appendix retrieval in pediatric laparoscopic appendectomy.
- This technique helps avoid wide surgical incisions and abdominal wall contamination.
- It offers a safe, cheap, and easy solution for a common challenge in pediatric surgery.
Background:
Laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming an increasingly common operation among children. It is well known that the abdominal wall should not be exposed to the appendix's inflamed tissue during its removal. Several ways to protect the retrieval site have been described, with controversial results. Elevated costs, large surgical wounds and high contamination risks are typical reported issues.
Objective:
We describe a safe, cheap and easy technique to remove the appendix after a laparoscopic appendectomy in pediatric patients.
Methods:
We retrospectively collected and analyzed the files of all children operated on at our institution for laparoscopic appendectomy between September 2004 and April 2015. To remove the appendix, we used the cut end of a glove's finger.
Results:
We performed 291 laparoscopic appendectomies using this technique during an 11-year period. Patients' ages ranged from 2 to 16years old. The appendix could be extracted using this technique in all the cases. No intraoperative complications related to the technique were observed. Overall, only one patient (0.34%) presented wound complications.
Conclusions:
Avoiding wide surgical incisions and abdominal wall contaminations is essential during laparoscopic appendectomies in children. Our easy, safe and cheap technique allows these important goals to be achieved.
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