Conventional Laparoscopic Appendicectomy and Laparoscope-Assisted Appendicectomy: a Comparative Study

Laparoscopic procedures for removal of the appendix by the three-port technique as an alternative to conventional appendicectomy have gained wide popularity, but they have been criticized for technical difficulty, more time consumption, and high cost. We have compared conventional three-port laparoscopic appendicectomy (LA) and laparoscope-assisted appendicectomy (LAA). In period from August 2010 to January 2012, 77 patients underwent appendicectomy by a minimally invasive procedure (39 LA and 38 LAA), at Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. All the 39 cases of LA were completed successfully, but of the 38 cases, LAA could be completed only in 32 cases. Of the six cases where LAA could not be completed, five were converted to LA [three because of excessive body mass index (BMI) and two because of bleeding]. One case had to be converted to open appendicectomy because of excessive bleeding. In LA, the mean duration of surgery was less than that in LAA (18.18 versus 24.39 min). Wound infections were more common in LAA compared to LA (six versus two). Severe postoperative pain was present in eight cases in LAA compared to two in LA. On day 2, 79.487 % patients undergoing LA were discharged compared to 28.947 % in LAA. LA is better as a minimally invasive procedure. LAA can only be done in patients with lower BMI, is more time consuming, has more complications, more incidence of postoperative pain, wound infections, and longer hospital stay.