Transumbilical Laparo-Assisted Appendectomy: A Safe Operation for the Whole Spectrum of Appendicitis in Children-A Single-Centre Experience

• Published in: Minimally Invasive Surgery Vol. 2013; no. 2013; pp. 56 - 59
• Main Authors: Cherti, S., Schleef, J., Codrich, D., Giannotta, A., Gobbo, F., Olenik, D., Scarpa, M. G., Lembo, M. A., Pederiva, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01-01-2013; Hindawi Puplishing Corporation; Hindawi Publishing Corporation; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Clinical Study
• DOI: 10.1155/2013/216416
• EISSN: 2090-1453
• ISSN: 2090-1445

The paper reports the results of a retrospective review of the medical charts of 203 patients admitted to a pediatric surgical unit with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis between January 2006 and December 2010 when a transumbilical laparoscopic-assisted appendectomy (TULAA) was introduced as a new surgical technique. Among 203 admitted patients, 7 (3.5%) had a localized appendiceal abscess and were treated with antibiotics. All of them responded to antibiotics and underwent TULAA interval appendectomy 8 weeks later. 196 patients (96.5%) underwent immediate surgery. In 12/181 (6.6%) urgent cases, conversion to laparotomy was necessary, in 3 patients because of bowel distension and in 9 for retrocecal position of appendix. In all 181 TULAA completed procedures, one trocar was used in 151 cases (89.4%), two trocars in 16 (9.4%), and three trocars in 2 (1.2%). The mean operative time for single port TULAA was 52′ Complications included 5 wound infections and 5 intra-abdominal abscesses, all managed conservatively. In conclusion, TULAA is a safe, minimally invasive approach with acute appendicitis, regardless of the perforation status, and can be recommended in the pediatric urgical settings.