Federal Medical Centre, Gombe is one of the tertiary hospitals located in the northeast of Nigeria. It serves as a referral center to neighboring states and also gives secondary care to the immediate environment. The institution has evolved in providing minimal access surgery services in appendicectomies, cholecystectomies, diagnostic laparoscopy, endourology, etc. We present our experience in laparoscopic appendicectomies.

To share our experience in general surgery unit in laparoscopic surgery.

One-year review (May 2013 to February 2014) of patients who underwent laparoscopic appendicectomy was made. Recruitment for the procedure was done from patients who presented at the Emergency Department (ED) or at the Surgical Outpatient Department (SOPD). All patients who had complications and previous abdominal surgeries or had cardiopulmonary disease were excluded. Patients were counseled and written consent for conversion to open surgery was obtained.

Twenty patients who had laparoscopic appendicectomy were reviewed. All had successful surgery; there was no conversion to open. Mean operative time was 34.2 minutes; mean recovery period was 181 minutes (3 hours), mean pain perception was 2.55 (mild pain), mean hospital stay was 22 hours. They were followed up at the SOPD and none of them had port site wound infection or clinical evidence of other complications.

Laparoscopic appendicectomy is a favorable option in the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis. Early recovery, reduced pain, and reduced hospital stay are the outcomes observed.

Mshelia NM, Obiano SK, Guduf MI, Gital YS, Khalifa S. Our Experience in Laparoscopic Appendicectomy in a Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe. World J Lap Surg 2016;9(1):17-21.