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Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for the obese patient: a subset analysis from a prospective, randomized, double-blind study

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Abstract

Background

The clinical outcomes for patients randomized to either open or laparoscopic appendectomy are comparable. However, it is not known whether this is true in the subset of the adult population with higher body mass indexes (BMIs). This study aimed to compare the outcomes of open versus laparoscopic appendectomy in the obese population.

Methods

A subgroup analysis of a randomized, prospective, double-blind study was conducted at a county academic medical center. Of the 217 randomized patients, 37 had a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher. Open surgery was performed for 14 and laparoscopic surgery for 23 of these patients. The primary outcome measures were the postoperative complication rates. The secondary outcomes were operative time, length of hospital stay, time to resumption of diet, narcotic requirements, and Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) quality-of-life data.

Results

No differences in complications between the open and laparoscopic groups were found. Also, no significant differences were seen in any of the secondary outcomes except for a longer operative time among the obese patients.

Conclusions

In this study, laparoscopic appendectomy did not show a benefit over the open approach for obese patients with appendicitis.

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Disclosures

Tatyan Clarke, Namir Katkhouda, Rodney J. Mason, Bon C. Cheng, Jaisa Olasky, Helen J. Sohn, Ashkan Moazzez, Jeffrey Algra, Eric Chaghouri, and Thomas V. Berne have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and Los Angeles County–UCS Medical Center, 1200 N State Street Suite 6A231-A, Los Angels, CA, 90033, USA

    Tatyan Clarke, Namir Katkhouda, Rodney J. Mason, Bon C. Cheng, Jaisa Olasky, Helen J. Sohn, Ashkan Moazzez, Jeffrey Algra, Eric Chaghouri & Thomas V. Berne

Authors
  1. Tatyan Clarke
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  2. Namir Katkhouda
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  3. Rodney J. Mason
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  4. Bon C. Cheng
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  5. Jaisa Olasky
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  6. Helen J. Sohn
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  7. Ashkan Moazzez
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  8. Jeffrey Algra
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  9. Eric Chaghouri
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  10. Thomas V. Berne
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodney J. Mason.

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Clarke, T., Katkhouda, N., Mason, R.J. et al. Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for the obese patient: a subset analysis from a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Surg Endosc 25, 1276–1280 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-1359-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-010-1359-5

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