Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Laparoscopic appendectomy is recommended for the treatment of complicated appendicitis in children

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Laparoscopic appendectomy in children is well accepted for the treatment of non complicated appendicitis. An increased risk of postoperative intraabdominal abcess formation has been reported in complicated appendicitis. The puropose of this study was to compare open (OA) versus laparoscopic appendectomies (LA) in complicated appendicitis in children and to assess the safety and feasibility of LA. The hospital records of 118 consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy for complicated appendicitis (perforated/gangrenous) from 2000 to 2006 were retrospectively analysed. Fifty-four patients had LA and 64 underwent OA. There were 74 males and 44 females. The length of hospital stay ranged from 4 to 12 days in the LA group and 4 to 17 days in the OA group. Five patients (9.2%) in the LA group had post operative complications; intraabdominal collections in 3 and wound infections in 2. Ten patients (15.6%) had postoperative complications in the OA group; intraabdominal collections in 5, wound infection in 3, pleural effusion in 1 and prolonged ileus in 1. In complicated appendicitis the complication rate is lower for LA as compared to OA. We recommend laparoscopic approach to all children presenting with complicated appendicitis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Surana R, Puri P (1994) Primary wound closure after perforated appendicitis in children. Br J Surg 81:440

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Brender JD, Marceuse EK, Koepsell TD, Hatch EI (1985) Childhood appendicitis: factors associated with perforation. Paediatrics 76:301–306

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ball CG, Kortbeek JB, Kirkpatrick AW, Mitchell P (2004) Laparoscopic appendectomy for complicated appendicitis. An evaluation of post operative factors. Surg Endosc 18(6):969–973

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Krisher SL, Browne A, Dibbins A, Tkacz N, Curci M (2001) Intraabdominal abcess after laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. Arch Surg 136(4):438–441

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Horwitz JR, Custer MD, May BH, Mehall JR, Lally KP (1997) Should laparoscopic appendectomy be avoided for complicated appendicitis in children? J Pediatr Surg 32:1601–1603

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hoehne F, Ozaeta M, Sherman B, Miani P, Taylor E (2005) Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy: Is the post operative infectious complication rate different? Am Surg 71(10):813–815

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Bonanni F, Reed J, Hartzell G, Trostle D, Boorse R, Gittleman M, Cole A (1994) Laparoscopic versus conventional appendectomy. J Am Coll Surg 179:273–278

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ikeda H, Ishimaru Y, Takayasu H, Okamura K, Kisaki Y, Koshigaya JF (2004) Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in children with uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg 39(11):1680–1685

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Little DC, Custer MD, May BH, Blalock SE, Cooney DR (2002) Laparoscopic appendectomy: an unnecessary and expensive procedure in children? J Pediatr Surg 37(3):310–317

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Yagmarlu A, Vernon D, Barnhart DC, Georgeson KE, Harmon CM (2006) Laparoscopic appendectomy for perforated appendicitis: a comparison with open appendectomy. Surg Endosc 20(7):1051–1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mallick MS, Al-Qahtani A, Al-Bassam A (2007) Laparoscopic appendectomy is a favourable alternative for complicated appendicitis in children. Pediatr Surg Int 23:257–259

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Li P, Xu Q, Ji Z, Gao Y, Zhang X, Duan Y, Guo Z, Zheng B, Guo X, Wu X (2005) Comparison of surgical stress between laparoscopic and open appendectomy in children. J Pediatr Surg 40:1279–1283

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Partrick DA (2006) Prospective evaluation of a primary laparoscopic approach for children presenting with simple or complicated appendicitis. Am J Surg 192(6):750–755

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Esposito C, Borzi P, Valla JS, Mekki M, Nouri A, Becmeur F, Allal H, Settimi A, Shier F, Sabin MA, Mastroianni L (2007) Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in children: a retrospective comparative study of 2,332 cases. World J Surg 31(4):750–755

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Kouwenhoven EA, van Driel OJ, van Erp WF (2005) Fear of the intraabdominal abcess after laparoscopic appendectomy. Not realistic. Surg Endosc 19(7):923–926

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lintula H, Kokki H, Vanamo K, Antila P, Eskelinen M (2002) Laparoscopy in children with complicated appendicitis. J Pediatr Surg 37(9):1317–1320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Childrens Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Maria Menezes, Laxman Das, Mohammed Alagtal, Juliana Haroun & Prem Puri

  2. Childrens Research Centre, Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin-12, Ireland

    Maria Menezes, Laxman Das, Mohammed Alagtal, Juliana Haroun & Prem Puri

Authors
  1. Maria Menezes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Laxman Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mohammed Alagtal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Juliana Haroun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Prem Puri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Prem Puri.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Menezes, M., Das, L., Alagtal, M. et al. Laparoscopic appendectomy is recommended for the treatment of complicated appendicitis in children. Pediatr Surg Int 24, 303–305 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-007-2102-8

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-007-2102-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation