2019 Volume 39 Issue 4 Pages 669-673
Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has been recognized as the standard treatment for appendicitis. We need to manage complicated cases including perforated appendicitis with a laparoscopic approach. We investigated the outcome of LA for perforated appendicitis in our institution. Between January 2014 and October 2018, 274 patients underwent appendectomy. Among the 122 patients who underwent emergency LA, 36 patients had a perforated appendix. An appendectomy for a perforated appendix has been associated with an extended operative time, an increase in postoperative complications and a prolonged postoperative hospital stay compared with simple appendicitis. There was no significant differences in the postoperative complications and the length of hospital stay between laparoscopic (n=36) and open (n=14) appendectomies for perforated appendicitis. Drain placement was significantly less in the laparoscopic approach. In comparison of localized (n＝22) and extensive (n=14) contamination involved with appendectomies for perforated appendicitis, the extent of the abdominal contamination was not associated with the postoperative complications and the length of hospital stay after LA. The laparoscopic approach for treatment of perforated appendicitis can become the standard procedure, although it has been associated with a higher rate of postoperative complications compared with LA for simple appendicitis.
