Is it safe to perform laparoscopic appendicectomy in a low volume rural setting? A retrospective non-comparative study

Background: Inspite of the rapid adoption of laparoscopy as a technology for surgeries of the abdomen, its use is very limited in rural settings with limited resources in India. This study was carried out to find out whether performing laparoscopic appendicectomies (which is the commonest general surgery performed the world over) in a low volume rural hospital is feasible, safe and should it be the recommended procedure of choice. Also, the pattern of demographics, symptoms, signs, investigation reports of the patients who presented with acute appendicitis at the centre was studied.Methods: Retrospective analysis of the data from electronic medical records in Bodeli General Hospital from March 2015 to February 2020 was done. Data of all laparoscopic appendicectomies performed (108 in numbers) in this rural centre with low volume work and a single surgeon, was analysed.Results: Various cost-cutting local innovations were used, the age and sex distribution, presenting complaints, examination findings, investigation reports, operative time and complications were analysed and presented.Conclusions: It is quite evident that performing laparoscopic appendicectomies in low volume, single surgeon setting is a safe procedure and should be the procedure of choice, whenever an appendicectomy is indicated.