Mini incision Appendectomy for Acute Uncomplicated Appendicitis: An Alternative to Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Background Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency worldwide, requiring immediate surgical intervention. Appendectomy for appendicitis is the most commonly performed emergency operation in the world. Appendectomy is being performed either by conventional or by laparoscopic means. In our study, one new technique of appendectomy called mini incision appendectomy was being performed in one hundred and fifty patients in GMC Srinagar, tertiary care hospital in Jammu& Kashmir, India. Materials and Methods A total number of one hundred and fifty patients between the ages of 10 years and 60 years, diagnosed as acute appendicitis, were included in the study. All of these patients underwent this new technique of mini incision emergency appendectomy. The study was carried out over a period of four years from 2013 to 2017 and various variables in the form of length of incision, operative time, analgesia requirement, complications, length of hospital stay and return to normal activity were calculated. Results Mini incision appendectomy was performed successfully in one hundred and fifty patients, in the age group of 10 to 60 years with a small transverse incision (2 to 3 cms long) in the right lower abdomen, starting from the lateral border of rectus muscle and extended laterally upto the McBurneys point. The time taken to complete the operation was 15-40 minutes (average 24.24 minutes), 5 patients (3.33 %) required extension of incision and 3 patients (02 %) developed wound infection, which was managed conservatively. There was no mortality, better cosmesis and almost invisible scar observed in our study. Conclusion Mini incision appendectomy is a safe and cosmetically better technique of performing appendectomy, and can be successfully used as an alternative to laparoscopic appendectomy. Appendicitis, Appendectomy, Mini incision, Rectus muscle.