Background: A prospective study including 272 patients with suspected appendicitis was performed. The aims were to evaluate the representativity of the study group and to compare diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy with conventional appendicectomy.
Methods: The study was an open, randomized, single-centre trial with sequential design. One hundred and eight patients were randomized between laparoscopy or conventional appendicectomy, of whom 84 had acute appendicitis. Duration of postoperative convalescence was the major endpoint.
Results: The study patients were representative of the eligible population regarding age and stage of appendicitis. The risk of unnecessary appendicectomy was significantly (P = 0.03) lower after laparoscopy. The mean difference in duration of postoperative convalescence was 4.7 days in favour of of laparoscopic appendicectomy (P = 0.07), and 26 min in duration of operation in favour of conventional appendicectomy (P < 0.01). No differences were detected in postoperative hospital stay, pain assessment or complications.
Conclusion: The laparoscopic procedure is at least as good as conventional appendicectomy. Initial laparoscopy reduces the rate of misdiagnosis.