COMPARISON OF WOUND INFECTION RATE IN OPEN APPENDECTOMY (OA) VS LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY (LA)

Abstract

Introduction: Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) and open appendectomy (OA) are two prevalent surgical approaches for treating appendicitis, each with distinct benefits and challenges.

Objectives: To compare wound infection rate in open appendectomy (OA) vs laparoscopic appendectomy (LA)

Study design: Cross sectional study

Materials & Methods: This study employs a cross-sectional study design. The study was conducted at Fauji Foundation Hospital, Lahore. The inclusion criteria consisted of patients aged between 18 and 65 years, diagnosed with acute appendicitis based on clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, and imaging findings, and who underwent either OA or LA. Data were collected focusing on patient demographics (including age, sex, and BMI), surgical details, including the type of appendectomy (OA or LA), duration of surgery, intraoperative findings, and the use of prophylactic antibiotics, were also recorded. Postoperative outcomes were assessed, with specific attention to the length of hospital stay. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (version 25.0). A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The average age of patients in the LA group was 40.8 years (±12.9), slightly younger than the OA group with an average age of 42.0 years (±13.1). The LA group had a higher percentage of male patients (72.0%) compared to the OA group (57.5%). Both groups had similar hospital stays, with the LA group at 4.8 days (±2.2) and the OA group at 4.9 days (±2.3), indicating comparable recovery times. The wound infection rate was slightly higher in the LA group at 26.0% compared to 25.0% in the OA group, though the difference is minimal.

Conclusion: In conclusion, while laparoscopic appendectomy offers certain procedural advantages such as shorter surgery times, the slightly higher wound infection rate and readmission rate suggest that the choice between LA and OA should be individualized based on patient characteristics, surgical expertise, and specific clinical circumstances.