Comparison of Surgical Site Infections in Laparoscopic Versus Open Appendectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study

Aim To compare the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in laparoscopic appendectomy vs. open appendectomy. Methodology A total of 80 patients with an acute appendicitis diagnosis were chosen and split into two groups: Group A (laparoscopic appendectomy) and Group B (open appendectomy), and permission from the hospital's ethical committee was obtained before patient enrollment. Eighty patients, of either gender, undergoing laparoscopic and open appendectomy were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. On the first, second, third, fifth, and seventh days following surgery, the wound was evaluated and scored in accordance with the wound asepsis score. Then, the overall wound asepsis score and SSIs were computed. In both groups, SSIs were compared. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 23 (Released 2015; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used to analyze the results by applying the Chi-square test and Student t-test, which were then presented in the form of descriptions, statistical tables, and charts. Results Group A's mean age was 41.70 ± 12.195 years, whereas Group B's mean age was 43.75 ± 9.131 years (p = 0.39). Group A's and Group B's BMIs were 24.65 ± 2.98 and 25.90 ± 3.07 (p = 0.06), respectively, and the male-to-female ratios were 1.2:1 and 1.6:1, respectively. SSIs were notably higher in the open appendectomy group (12, or 30%) compared to the laparoscopic group (4, or 10%) (p = 0.02). Conclusion The incidence of SSIs was notably higher in the open appendectomy group as compared to the laparoscopic appendectomy group; therefore, laparoscopic appendectomy is a safer approach toward acute appendicitis, as compared to open appendectomy in terms of SSIs.