Comparison of the methods of intracorporeal knot and hem-o-lok clip to cover the stumps in laparoscopic appendectomy

Abstract

Aim: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) is used in acute appendicitis treatment in many centers today. Various methods such as intracorporeal knot, endoloop, stapler and hem-o-lok clip are used to close of the appendix stump during LA. All of these methods has several advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of the intracorporal knot method with hem-o-lok clip method to close of the appendix stump in LA. Material and Methods: Operative data, complications and follow-up results of 143 patients which treated with LA between January 2012 and December 2017 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Sixty-four patients (44.7%) were males and 79 (55.2%) were females. Seventy-five patients (52.4%) were treated with 2/0 polyglactin (coated vicyrl, ethicon) sutures and 68 patients (47%) were treated with hem-o-lok clip XL (weck hem-o-lok polymer ligation system) for intracorporeal knot to close of the appendix stump. Patients were compared according to the duration of operation, the duration of hospitalization and postoperative complications and there were no statistically significant difference between the data of the cases according to the groups (p = 0.197, p = 0.902, p = 0.503, respectively). Conclusion: We identified that both techniques for appendix stump closure are effective and safe methods in LA.