Single incision versus standard 3-port laparoscopic appendectomy: a prospective randomized trial.

Creator(s)

Shawn D. St Peter, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Obinna O. Adibe
David Juang, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Susan W. Sharp
Carissa L. Garey
Carrie A. Laituri
J Patrick Murphy
Walter S. Andrews, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Ronald J. Sharp
Charles L. Snyder, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
G W. Holcomb III, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Daniel J. Ostlie

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-1-2011

Identifier

DOI: 10.1097/SLA.0b013e31823003b5

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic appendectomy through a single umbilical incision is an emerging approach supported by several case series. However, to date, prospective comparative data are lacking. Therefore, we conducted a prospective, randomized trial comparing single site umbilical laparoscopic appendectomy to 3-port laparoscopic appendectomy.

METHODS: After Internal Review Board approval, patients were randomized to laparoscopic appendectomy via a single umbilical incision or standard 3-port access. The primary outcome variable was postoperative wound infection. Using a power of 0.9 and an alpha of 0.05, 180 patients were calculated for each arm. Patients with perforated appendicitis were excluded. The technique of ligation/division of the appendix and mesoappendix was left to the surgeon's discretion. There were 7 participating surgeons dictated by the call schedule. All patients received the same preoperative antibiotics and postoperative management was controlled.

RESULTS: There were 360 patients were enrolled between August 2009 and November 2010. There were no differences in patient characteristics at presentation. There was no difference in wound infection rate, time to regular diet, length of hospitalization, or time to return to full activity. Operative time, doses of narcotics, surgical difficultly and hospital charges were greater with the single site approach. Also, the mean operative time was 5 minutes longer for the single site group.

CONCLUSION: The single site umbilical laparoscopic approach to appendectomy produces longer operative times resulting in greater charges. However, these small differences are likely of marginal clinical relevance. The study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov at the inception of enrollment (NCT00981136).

Journal Title

Annals of surgery

Volume

254

Issue

4

First Page

586

Last Page

590

MeSH Keywords

Appendectomy; Appendicitis; Child; Female; Humans; Laparoscopy; Male; Prospective Studies; Single-Blind Method

Keywords

Appendectomy; appendicitis

Comments

Secondary source ID

• ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00981136

Recommended Citation

St Peter, S. D., Adibe, O. O., Juang, D., Sharp, S. W., Garey, C. L., Laituri, C. A., Murphy, J. P., Andrews, W. S., Sharp, R. J., Snyder, C. L., Holcomb, G. W., Ostlie, D. J. Single incision versus standard 3-port laparoscopic appendectomy: a prospective randomized trial. Annals of surgery 254, 586-590 (2011).