Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for treatment of acute appendicitis: A prospective comparative study

Background & Aim: Appendicitis is the most prevalent operational emergency that occurs in any operative unit. It is the most prevalent disorder, necessitating an appendectomy. This research aimed to compare laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) results regarding surgical duration, hospital stay, postoperative pain, wound infection, hospital mortality rate, and conversion rate from LA to OA. Patients and Methods: It is a prospective comparative study of randomized double-blinded research for cases with clinical presentation of acute appendicitis conducted on 100 patients at Mansoura University Hospital, General Surgery Department. The period of study was 1 year from October 5, 2022 till October 5, 2023. Results: There was a statistically significant higher rate of wound infection and a higher rate of postoperative pyrexia in the OA group compared with the LA) group with a P value less than 0.05. The conversion rate from LA to OA was 6% (three cases). None of the patients developed pelvic abscess or fecal fistula. Also, there was statistically significant longer operative time, longer hospital stay duration and more severe pain in the OA group compared to LA group P value less than 0.05. Conclusion: We conclude that the laparoscopic approach is a safe and effective surgical technique for appendectomy, which provides clinically positive benefits over the open procedure, like a shorter hospitalization, a lower wound infection rate, and a lower VAS score postoperatively.