Appendicitis Updated Review

Once the diagnosis of appendicitis is made, the surgeon must decide whether to perform an open (OA) or laparoscopic (LA) appendectomy. Numerous randomized controlled trials have compared these two methods for treat appendicitis, sometimes with conflicting results. Meta-analyses and systematic reviews have combined these studies to address the controversy (See table below). These meta-analyses have similar findings, which can be summarized in appendicitis surgery as follows:

(1) OA can be performed more quickly;

(2) LA patients have less postoperative pain and reduced narcotic requirements;

(3) there is a trend toward reduced length of stay with LA;

(4) LA patients have fewer wound infections;

(5) OA patients develop fewer intra-abdominal abscesses;

(6) LA patients return to work more quickly;