World Journal of Laparoscopic Surgery

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VOLUME 10 , ISSUE 1 ( January-April, 2017 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Laparoscopic Appendectomy as a Standard of Care for Both Complicated and Uncomplicated Appendicitis in South Africa, Is It Safe? Single Center Experience

Fusi Mosai, Zach M Koto

Citation Information : Mosai F, Koto ZM. Laparoscopic Appendectomy as a Standard of Care for Both Complicated and Uncomplicated Appendicitis in South Africa, Is It Safe? Single Center Experience. World J Lap Surg 2017; 10 (1):22-25.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10033-1296

Published Online: 01-06-2011

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2017; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim

The aim of this descriptive analytical study was to describe the outcomes of using laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) as the standard of care for both complicated and uncomplicated cases of acute appendicitis in South Africa.

Background

Laparoscopic appendectomy has been widely accepted as safe when performed in uncomplicated cases of acute appendicitis. However, acceptance of this procedure as the standard of care has been surrounded by controversies, with the main concern been around the safety of this procedure in complicated cases of appendicitis. Currently, there is no consensus in published literature regarding the use of LA as the standard of care in both complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of all patients who were diagnosed with acute appendicitis at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital over a 3-year period was reviewed. Data were retrieved from our departmental database and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 746 patients were reviewed and 576 were included in the study. All these patients were offered LA. The mean age was 26.37, with 66% of our patients been males. Complicated cases formed 38% of our total study population. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed in both complicated and uncomplicated cases of appendicitis with a success rate of 96%. Intraoperative complication rate and the relook rate was 0.5 and 7% respectively, with an overall mortality of 1.7%.

Conclusion

The positive outcome found in this study when LA was used in both complicated and uncomplicated cases of acute appendicitis suggests that this approach is possible in carefully selected patients and with appropriate basic laparoscopic skills.

Clinical significance

Complicated appendicitis is not a contraindication to laparoscopy.

How to cite this article

Mosai F, Koto ZM. Laparoscopic Appendectomy as a Standard of Care for Both Complicated and Uncomplicated Appendicitis in South Africa, Is It Safe? Single Center Experience. World J Lap Surg 2017;10(1):22-25.


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