RESUMEN
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the indications, technique, complications, and outcome of endoscopic appendectomies. DESIGN: Retrospective study with a follow-up of 2 years. SETTING: A gynecologic surgical center in Hamburg, Germany. PATIENTS: Forty-seven women who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. INTERVENTIONS: Appendectomies were performed under general anesthesia with bipolar coagulation, loop-ligation, and transection. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Forty-seven patients have been followed for 2 years. Thirty laparoscopic appendectomies (LA) were incidental and 17 elective. The majority of LA were performed because of pain symptoms. More than 50% of the patients reported complete pain relief after LA. The average duration of surgery was 47 minutes. The average hospital stay was 66 hours. Use of analgesics was low; 19 women required no analgesia. A febrile reaction was registered in 6%. No wound infection occurred. Two serious complications were noted: one acute peritonitis after 4 days, and one stump abscess after 4 weeks. Both patients recovered uneventfully. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe surgery if the described technique is followed. The complication rate is low, conversion rate is zero, and late results underline successful treatment of pain.