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LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDICECTOMY AT THE AGA KHAN HOSPITAL, NAIROBI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate our experience of laparoscopic appendicectomy at the Aga Khan
Hospital, Nairobi over a six year period from the inception of the technique and to
assess its advantages and disadvantages.
Design: Case series study.
Setting: The Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.
Patients: One hundred and six cases operated on from May 1996 to June 2002.
Main outcome measures: Clinical presentation, age and sex demographics, average
hospital stay, operating time, intra-operative and post-operative complications and
outcome.
Results: There was a female preponderance with a female to male ratio of 2:3:1. Mean
age was 30.6 years. There was a slightly more number of patients with recurrent
appendicitis as opposed to the acute form. Totally laparoscopic procedure was in 39.6%
of the cases, laparoscopic assisted in 45.3%. The conversion rate to an open procedure
was 15.1%. Post operative port-site infection was 8.5%. No mortality was reported in
these series. However there was one case which required re-operation following
significant port site haemorrhage. Mean post-operative hospital stay was 2.2 days.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic appendicectomy is a safe procedure in well trained hands.
The major advantages are less morbidity and excellent cosmesis. Discovery of other
intraabdominal pathologies is possible through laparoscopy as opposed to classical
appendicectomy.
Objective: To evaluate our experience of laparoscopic appendicectomy at the Aga Khan
Hospital, Nairobi over a six year period from the inception of the technique and to
assess its advantages and disadvantages.
Design: Case series study.
Setting: The Aga Khan Hospital, Nairobi.
Patients: One hundred and six cases operated on from May 1996 to June 2002.
Main outcome measures: Clinical presentation, age and sex demographics, average
hospital stay, operating time, intra-operative and post-operative complications and
outcome.
Results: There was a female preponderance with a female to male ratio of 2:3:1. Mean
age was 30.6 years. There was a slightly more number of patients with recurrent
appendicitis as opposed to the acute form. Totally laparoscopic procedure was in 39.6%
of the cases, laparoscopic assisted in 45.3%. The conversion rate to an open procedure
was 15.1%. Post operative port-site infection was 8.5%. No mortality was reported in
these series. However there was one case which required re-operation following
significant port site haemorrhage. Mean post-operative hospital stay was 2.2 days.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic appendicectomy is a safe procedure in well trained hands.
The major advantages are less morbidity and excellent cosmesis. Discovery of other
intraabdominal pathologies is possible through laparoscopy as opposed to classical
appendicectomy.
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