Three-port Appendectomy Research Articles

Impact of Body Habitus on Single-Site Laparoscopic Appendectomy for Nonperforated Appendicitis: Subset Analysis from a Prospective, Randomized Trial

There have been several series documenting the utility of single-site laparoscopic appendectomy. However, there are no data to support patient selection based on their physical characteristics. We recently completed a large prospective, randomized trial comparing single-site laparoscopic appendectomy with standard three-port laparoscopic appendectomy for nonperforated appendicitis. This dataset was used to examine the relative impact of body habitus on operative approach. We performed an analysis of the dataset collected in a prospective, randomized trial of 360 appendectomy patients who presented with nonperforated appendicitis. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and plotted on a growth chart to obtain BMI percentile according to gender and age. Standard definitions for overweight (BMI 85-95%) and obesity (BMI >95%) were used. In the single-site group there were 26 overweight and 19 obese patients. In the three-port group there were 25 overweight and 16 obese patients. There were no significant differences between overweight and normal with either approach. However, with the single-site approach there was longer mean operative time, more doses of postoperative narcotics given, longer length of stay, and greater hospital charges in obese patients. In the three-port group, there were no differences between normal and obese patients. When using the single-site approach for appendectomy, obesity in children creates longer operative times, more doses of postoperative analgesics, longer length of stay, and greater charges. However, obesity has no impact on three-port appendectomy.

Laparoscopic Transumbilical Single-port Appendectomy: Initial Experience and Comparison With Three-port Appendectomy

Laparoscopic appendectomy usually needs 3 ports, 1 for the videoscope and 2 as working channels. The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic transumbilical single-port appendectomy with conventional three-port appendectomy. From October 2008 to January 2009, 35 patients underwent single-port appendectomy (SA). Surgical outcomes such as operation time, number of times of parenteral analgesic injected, complication, and hospital stay of 35 patients receiving SA were analyzed and compared with those of 37 patients receiving three-port appendectomy (TA) during the same period. Comparing SA with TA, there were no statistically significant differences in operation time (75.9+/-27.4 vs. 66.4+/-21.7 min), times of injected analgesic (0.86+/-1.3 vs. 0.97+/-1.47 times), complication rate (8.6% vs. 2.7%), and hospital stay (3.0+/-1.3 vs. 3.2+/-1.4 d). The most common complication was wound infection (2 cases for SA and 1 for TA). One instance of intra-abdominal fluid accumulation occurred in a patient with perforated appendicitis during SA, and this was managed with image-guided drainage. In contrast to the TA, the abdominal scar in SA was nearly inconspicuous. This study showed SA to be feasible, and it did not show any difference in postoperative outcomes compared with TA. Moreover, SA can produce scarless surgery without the need for specialized instrumentation.

A retrospective study of two-port appendectomy and its comparison with open appendectomy and three-port appendectomy

Background/Aims:To establish the efficacy of two-port appendectomy as an alternative to standard laparoscopic and open appendectomy in the management of acute appendicitis.Materials and Methods:Of the 151 patients included in the study, 47 patients were in the open group, 61 in two-port and 43 patients were included in the three-port group. Only patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis were included in the study. Patients with complicated appendicitis like perforated appendix, appendicular lump and appendicular abscess were excluded from the study. Patients converted to open procedure after initial diagnosis and patients with other pathology in addition to appendicitis were also excluded. Patients with recurrent appendicitis and chronic appendicitis were excluded. The total number of excluded cases was 50. Data were compared with cases of open and three-port appendectomy.Results:The mean operative time was 43.94, 35.74, and 59.65 min (SD: 18.91, 11.06, 19.29) for open, two-port, and three-port appendectomy groups respectively. Mean length of stay in days was 3.02, 1.93, and 2.26 (SD: 1.27, 1.04,1.09) for open, two-port, and three-port appendectomy groups respectively. Surgical site infection was significantly lower (P = 0.03) in laparoscopy group as compared to that in open appendectomy group. Seven patients (4.63%) developed surgical site infection, 5 (10.63%) in the open and 2 (1.92%) in the laparoscopy group. Surgical site infection was 1.63% and 2.32% in two-port and three-port appendectomy groups respectively.Conclusions:For uncomplicated appendicitis, the two-port appendectomy technique significantly reduces operative time as well as length of hospital stay. It also reduces surgical site infection as compared to open appendectomy group.