Open Vs. laparoscopic appendectomy. The Surgical Service One experience at the Hospital Vargas. Caracas

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the experience of Service One of Surgery at the Hospital Vargas in Caracas treating acute appendicitis,
to compare the type of surgical access and the morbi-mortality associated. Patients and method: Retrospective, a descriptive and analytic study of 253 patients admitted in Surgery Service One at Hospital Vargas de Caracas, with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis and that were treated surgically, between January 2000 to December 2005. Results: 210 appendectomies were performed by conventional techniques and 43 by laparoscopy. 59.28% of patients had 21 to 30 years. Females were more affected by 60.86%. 27.66% had medical antecedents; pain in all patients was the cause of consulting. General anesthesia was used in all cases of laparoscopic appendicectomy, in the conventional technique it was used in 60.47%. The intraoperative finding was a phlegmonous appendix in 83% of cases. The antimicrobial therapy used was for anaerobic and Gram-negative bacteria. The hospitalization rate was 2 days with open way in 74.76% and 100% in laparoscopy way. Conclusion: The laparoscopic appendectomy is an excellent alternative treatment for open surgery to treat patients with acute appendicitis provided that all the materials and equipment are available and a well-trained surgeon is at hand for laparoscopic procedures