ABSTRACT

Despite the known benefits of laparoscopic appendectomy, it is still controversial whether it causes a possible increase in development of infective complications such as wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess.

Patients who underwent laparoscopic and open appendectomy between November 2010 and May 2011were retrospectively analyzed according to rate of infective complications and length of hospital stay.

The study group consisted of a total 265 patients. There were 178 male (67%) and 87 female (33%) patients with a mean age of 30.78±12.14 years. Laparoscopic and open appendectomy was completed in 41 (15.5%) and 224 (84.5%) patients, respectively. The rate of conversion was 11%. It was seen that laparoscopic surgery was preferred significantly in female and younger patients (p=0.018). The incidence of intra-abdominal abscess after laparoscopic and open appendectomy amounted to 4.9% and 3.1%, respectively (p=0.633). Wound infection in patients undergoing open appendectomy occurred more frequently than those with laparoscopy (15.6% and 2.4%, respectively; p=0.044). Median length of hospital stay was 2 days for both groups (p=0.507).

Laparoscopic appendectomy is superior to open appendectomy with regard to low rate of wound infection.

Keywords: Appendectomy, wound infection, abdominal abscess