Comparison of outcomes of open and laparoscopic appendectomy: A retrospective cohort study

Open appendectomy has been the conventional choice of treatment for acute appendicitis. However, nowadays laparoscopic approach is emerging for the benefits it provides, like lesser postoperative pain and lesser duration of hospital stay, but at the cost of higher expenses and longer operative duration.

A retrospective cohort study was done at Shree Birendra Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021, with a total study population of 450 participants (300 in open appendectomy and 150 in laparoscopic appendectomy). Preoperative. Intraoperative and postoperative parameters were compared and analyzed between two groups using SPSS-25.

The mean age was 26.72 ± 9.70 in the open appendectomy (OA) and years 23.89 ± 6.32 in the laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) group. (p = 0.010) There was a significant difference between the mean operative time (46.08 ± 13.10 min in OA and 56.86 ±  11.70 min in LA, p = 0.000), length of hospital stay (1.28 ± 0.80 days in OA and 1.07 ±  0.25 days in LA, p = 0.000), course of oral analgesics (3.55 ± 0.68 days in OA and 3.00 days in LA p = 0.000) between OA groups and LA groups, while the total number of complications was less in the LA group however there was no statistically significant difference postoperative complications (p = 0.124) between the two groups in the surgical findings.

All in all, the laparoscopic approach is a better option for uncomplicated appendicitis due to its less postoperative pain and shorter duration of hospital stay.