Day Care Appendectomy Is Safe in Young Patients with Uncomplicated Early Presentation

Abstract

We analyzed the surgical outcomes of uncomplicated appendicitis in patients treated with conventional or laparoscopic appendectomy on an ambulatory basis compared with those who stayed overnight. Demographics, clinical course, surgery type, length of stay, and surgical outcomes of patients who underwent conventional or laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated appendicitis were measured. Comparisons were performed using Student t test and chi square analysis. A total of 197 patients were enroll in the study, 69 (35%) patients were discharged within 12 h after their surgery with a mean age of 26.1 years ± 10.23, and the rest of the patients (n = 128,65%) were hospitalized, with a mean age of 27.0 years ± 12.2 (p < 0.608). Open treatment was practice on 124 (62.9%) patients, laparoscopic approach was achieved on 73 (37%) patients, and three (1.5%) patients underwent conversion due to difficult dissection. There was a 14-h mean difference between groups, from the initial time of abdominal pain until arrival to the emergency room, with a mean time in the ambulatory group of 27.7 h ± 19.7 and hospitalized group of 42.4 h ± 39.7 (p < 0.001). Five (7.2%) patients on the ambulatory group presented post-surgical complications, with no significant difference from the patients of the inpatient group (n = 6, 4.7%) (p < 0.456). Overall, mortality rate was 0%, and all patients are well and alive with a mean follow-up of 8 months (range, 6–18 months). This study confirms suitability of conventional appendectomy as an outpatient procedure for uncomplicated appendicitis’ management.