Laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis in children has complication rates comparable with those of open appendectomy

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of laparoscopic (LA) vs. open appendectomy (OA) in children with perforated appendicitis (PA).

Methods: We reviewed the medical files of 221 children who underwent LA (n=75), OA (n=122), and conversion (CO) (n=24), comparing duration of operation, re-admissions, re-operations, intra-abdominal abscesses (IAA), and wound infections.

Results: Compared to OA, LA resulted in fewer re-admissions (1.3% vs. 12.3%; P=.006), fewer re-operations (4% vs. 17.2%; P=.006), and fewer wound infections (0% vs. 11.5%; P=.001). No differences in the duration of operation (72.9 ± 23.0 min vs. 77.7 ± 48.0 min; P=.392) or IAA (4% vs. 11.5%; P=.114) were observed. Compared to LA, CO had more complications.

Conclusions: We report that LA is superior to OA with regard to incidence of re-admission, re-operation, and wound infection.