University of Illinois at Chicago
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Transumbilical laparoscopically assisted appendectomy: an alternative minimally invasive technique in pediatric patients

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posted on 2011-05-27, 00:00 authored by Amy B. Stanfill, Danielle K. Matilsky, Kavitha Kalvakuri, Richard H. Pearl, Lizabeth J. Wallace, Ravindra K. Vegunta
Introduction: Transumbilical laparoscopically assisted appendectomy (TULAA) has been reported in the literature as an alternative to traditional three-port laparoscopic appendectomy (LA). Our study compares outcomes between LA and the one-trocar transumbilical technique in a single institution over a concurrent time frame for all cases of pediatric appendicitis. Methods: An Institutional Review Board–approved retrospective chart review of all appendectomies from July 2007 through June 2009 was performed. All appendectomies were performed either laparoscopically or transumbilically. One surgeon predominantly used the TULAA method, whereas the other 2 surgeons used strictly the LA method. No cases were converted to open. Categorization of specimens as normal, acute, or ruptured was based on pathology reports. Outcomes analyzed for each group included surgical duration, cost, length of stay, fever (>101.5F), wound infection, ileus, and postoperative abdominal-pelvic abscess. Results: A total of 131 appendectomies were performed by 3 surgeons, 83 were LA and 48 were TULAA. For all stages of appendicitis, outcomes differed significantly only for operating room cost, with the TULAA being significantly less expensive. All other outcomes were similar between the two techniques. Conclusion: Our study suggests that TULAA is a reasonable alternative to the standard minimally invasive technique for appendicitis in both acute and ruptured situations. All analyzed complications were similar between the groups, suggesting that TULAA is an acceptable surgical method in pediatric patients for all stages of appendicitis.

History

Publisher Statement

This is a copy of an article published in the Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques © 2010 [copyright Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.]; Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques is available online at: http://www.liebertonline.com. The original version is available through Mary Ann Liebert at DOI: 10.1089/lap.2010.0147

Publisher

Mary Ann Liebert

Language

  • en_US

issn

1557-9034

Issue date

2010-12-01

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