Aim: In the past years, studies have reported the superiority of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) over open appendectomy (OA) in randomized studies. Hence, this prospective study was designed to evaluate the clinical outcome of LA compared to the OA.
Methods: All the patients who were diagnosed with appendicitis and visited Tikrit Teaching Hospital in the study period were included in this study. They were divided into two groups: LA and OA groups. The two groups were compared on operating time, hospital stay, the incidence of surgical site infection, and other postsurgical complications.
Results: In the present study, a total of 128 patients (who visited Tikrit Teaching Hospital in Iraq) were included. Among them, 63 were included in the LA group and 65 people were in the OA group. The only significant difference that was observed in LA and OA group was in CRP count. In the OA group, the CRP count was significantly higher compared to the LA group (p = 0.024). The mean operating time was almost comparable between the LA and OA group. Blood loss was higher in the OA group and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.038). Even hospital stay was also shown to be statistically higher in the OA group. A significant difference was reported in the wound infection among the LA and OA groups. In the OA group, wound infection was significantly higher (10.75%) than in the LA group (3.17%). No other adverse events were reported to be statistically different.
Conclusion: Our findings revealed that LA has many advantages over OA, including a shorter hospital stay, earlier return to work, and a lower risk of wound infection.
Clinical significance: LA significantly reduces postoperative complications and improves the surgical outcome.
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