Appendectomies are the most common surgical procedures performed in the emergency surgery setting. Since more than one decade laparoscopic appendectomy appeared as an alternative procedure to commonly used conventional appendectomy as a recognized method of treatment of acute appendicitis. Despite multiple papers and studies comparing these techniques, still no clear indications and eligibility criteria exist for either of them.
The aim of the study: was to evaluate results of treatment of acute appendicitis using the laparoscopic method versus the conventional appendectomy, basing on parameters affecting treatment results and costs, such as duration of hospitalization, complications, use of medications.
Material and methods: The analysis included patients who underwent surgical treatment for acute appendicitis at the Department of Surgery of 4th Military Clinical Hospital in Wrocław between 2006 and 2012. Since 2006, 128 laparoscopic appendectomies (group 1) were performed, while 189 patients underwent conventional procedure during this time (including 11 who underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy - group 2). The study was based on retrospective analysis of medical records of patients. Treatment results were evaluated basing on the following parameters: duration of hospitalization, amount of used analgesics, duration and type of antibiotic therapy, peri- and postoperative complications.
Results and conclusions: Results obtained at our Clinic, similar to results obtained at other sites, warrant use of laparoscopic appendectomy. Use of minimally invasive techniques provides better treatment results, mainly with regard to shorter duration of hospitalization, lower use of antibiotics and analgesics, which also contributes to lower overall treatment costs.