Laparoscopic and Robotic Appendectomy: Efficiency and Cost Comparison

Acute appendicitis is a common cause of emergency abdominal surgery, most frequently affecting adolescents and young adults. Diagnosis is often complicated by variable clinical presentations, and timely recognition is critical to prevent complications such as perforation, peritonitis, and intra-abdominal abscess formation. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has transformed the operative management of appendicitis with laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) established as the standard operative approach due to reduced surgical trauma, faster recovery, lower complications rates, and shorter hospital stay compared to open appendectomy. Robotic appendectomy (RA) has emerged as a newer MIS alternative, offering enhanced visualization, instrument articulation, and ergonomic advantages that may address some technical limitations of conventional laparoscopy. The objective of this review is to examine and summarize current evidence comparing LA and RA in the management of acute appendicitis, including operative time, conversions rates, postoperative recovery, complications, cost, and training considerations. While LA consistently demonstrates favorable outcomes and cost-effectiveness across diverse patient populations, RA may provide incremental benefits in selected cases, particularly those with complex anatomy or increased technical difficulty. However, RA is associated with substantially higher operative and total costs, greater resource utilization, and the need for specialized equipment and trained personnel. By evaluating operative outcomes, patient recovery, and healthcare resource utilization, this review highlights the strengths, limitations, and clinical applicability of both minimally invasive approaches. Current evidence suggests that LA will likely remain the dominant approach for the foreseeable future due to its broad applicability, proven efficacy, and cost effectiveness, whereas RA may continue to grow in niche or complex cases where its technical advantages can be fully leveraged.