Laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis: an observational study from a peripheral hospital with limited facilities in Kashmir, India

ABSTRACT

Background: Appendectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in abdominal surgery and the laparoscopic approach is gradually replacing the conventional laparotomy for acute appendicitis.Methods: A total of 108 patients with acute appendicitis who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at JLNM Hospital Srinagar over a period of five years were evaluated in terms of feasibility and safety of the procedure at the District level hospital. It was an observational study.Results: The age of the patient ranged between 16 and 43 years, with 68 males and 40 females. Most (76.85%) of the patients had un-ruptured inflamed appendix. The mean operative time was 43 minutes with no intra-operative complications. Two patients required conversion to open surgery. Mean duration of hospital stay was 1.7 days. Eight patients had post-operative complications which were managed conservatively.Conclusions: Laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and feasible in expert hands, and can be done using low cost, readily available basic laparoscopic instruments and suture materials at hospitals with limited facilities.