Appendicectomy under local anaesthesia

OBJECTIVE: To analyse our results of appendicetomy under local anaesthesia.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

SETTING: University hospital, India.

SUBJECTS: 165 patients who presented with appendicitis between January 1996 and December 1997.

INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Appendicectomy after infiltration of local anaesthetic. No patient required general or spinal anaesthesia.

RESULT: Five patients (3%) developed postoperative wound infections. Mean operating time was 20 minutes (range 15-30) and median hospital stay 2 days (range 1-3).

CONCLUSION: Appendicectomy under local anaesthesia is quick, cost-effective and carries little morbidity. It can be safely used for all age groups.