A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY - OPEN VERSUS LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY

BACKGROUND Although laparoscopic appendectomy is widely practiced in developed countries, still there are many questions regarding the advantages and disadvantages of this approach in the treatment of acute appendicitis. Several controlled trials have been conducted, some in favour of laparoscopic appendectomy and others not. The aim of this study was to evaluate laparoscopic appendectomy in comparison with open appendectomy with special emphasis on postoperative septic complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this study, 60 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of suspected appendicitis between 2015 and 2016 were assigned either to laparoscopic appendectomy (n = 30) or open appendectomy (n = 30). RESULTS Wound infection was significantly higher in the open group than in the laparoscopic group. Hospital stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group, but operative time was little longer than in the open group. Conversion to open surgery was necessary in some case. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic appendectomy is as safe and effective as the open procedure. It significantly reduces the rate of postoperative wound infection. However, it is still acceptable to perform the open procedure, especially in hospitals without a large amount of laparoscopic experience.