Laparoscopic vs Open Appendicectomy in Children
Author Information
Author(s): Enda Hannan, Lim EMY, Feeney G, O’Brien L, Coffey JC, Peirce C
Primary Institution: University Hospital Limerick, Dooradoyle, Ireland
Hypothesis
Is laparoscopic appendicectomy more effective than open appendicectomy in children under 13 years when performed by adult general surgeons?
Conclusion
Laparoscopic appendicectomy can be safely performed by adult general surgeons in younger children, showing significant improvements in postoperative outcomes compared to open appendicectomy.
Supporting Evidence
- Laparoscopic appendicectomy had a shorter postoperative length of stay (2 days vs 3 days).
- No complications were recorded in the laparoscopic group, while 11.8% had complications in the open group.
- The negative appendicectomy rate was significantly lower in the laparoscopic group (3.9% vs 17.6%).
- The 30-day readmission rate was 0% in the laparoscopic group compared to 5.9% in the open group.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a special camera to remove appendixes in kids, which helps them heal faster and have fewer problems than the old way of doing it.
Methodology
A retrospective review comparing outcomes of laparoscopic and open appendicectomy in children under 13 over two years.
Potential Biases
Potential selection bias was minimized by random matching of patients.
Limitations
The study is retrospective, conducted in a single center, and has a modest sample size.
Participant Demographics
51 patients in each group, mostly male, with median ages of 10 years for laparoscopic and 9 years for open surgery.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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