Laparoscopic appendicectomy.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and morbidity of laparoscopic appendicectomy. DESIGN: Open study. SETTING: Songklanagarind Hospital, Songkla, Thailand. SUBJECTS: 31 consecutive patients who presented with a clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic appendicectomy through three abdominal punctures. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of operation, amount of analgesia, length of stay in hospital, and morbidity. RESULTS: Mean duration of operation was 47 minutes, median (range) length of stay in hospital was 2 (1-5) days, and there were no complications during or after the operation. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic appendicectomy is safe, the stay in hospital is short, patients recover quickly, with little pain and the cosmetic result is good.