J Korean Soc Endosc Laparosc Surg.  2011 Dec;14(2):74-79.

Gasless Laparoscopic Assisted Transumbilical Appendectomy

• Jung SW
• Moon HJ
• Lee JI
• Lee JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study evaluated the safety and feasibility of gasless laparoscopic assisted transumbilical appendectomy (GLATUA).
METHODS
Data for 62 GLATUA and 84 laparoscopic appendectomies (LA) for uncomplicated appendicitis, which had been performed over a 12 month period in a single institution, were compared retrospectively. The GLATUAs were carried out through an umbilical incision. The abdominal wall was retracted upward using an "L"-shaped retractor and the inflamed appendix was found by gasless laparoscopic vision. A transumbilical extracorporeal appendectomy was then performed. The LAs were performed using a three-port system.
RESULTS
The GLATUA group had a shorter mean operative time (44.1+/-22.1 vs. 51.5+/-24.7 min, p=0.06), mean time for resuming a soft diet (29.0+/-9.2 vs. 41.3+/-20.7 hrs, p<0.01) and hospital stay (3.0+/-0.9 vs. 3.6+/-1.7, p<0.01) than the LA group. There was no significant difference in complication rates (6.5% vs. 3.6%, p=0.44). The mean medical costs of the GLATUA group were 66.7% of the LA group.
CONCLUSION
GLATUA is a safe, feasible and more cost-effective alternative technique for surgery in uncomplicated acute appendicitis than LA.

Keyword

Appendectomy; Transumbilical; Gasless laparoscopic surgery

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Wall
Appendectomy
Appendicitis
Appendix
Diet
Length of Stay
Operative Time
Retrospective Studies
Vision, Ocular