A prospective trial of open versus laparoscopic appendicectomy.

BACKGROUND: An assessment of the value of laparoscopic appendicectomy was performed.

METHODS: During 1993, all patients above the age of 13 years admitted with clinical appendicitis to Box Hill were assigned to an open or laparoscopic procedure depending on whether the surgeon on call was an 'open' or 'laparoscopic' surgeon for the purpose of the study. Ninety-two patients were entered in the study, of whom 57 were in the open group. The rate of histologically proven appendicitis was 73.9%.

RESULTS: No significant difference between the groups was found in the use of narcotic analgesia, length of stay or incidence of wound infection. However, operating time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group.

CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic appendicectomy on an unselected group of patients does not confer many advantages but laparoscopy may be beneficial in certain subgroups.