Feasibility of prophylactic laparoscopic appendectomy in obese patients

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of prophylactic laparoscopic appendectomy in obese patients. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed in obese patients undergoing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) along (66 patients, TLH group) or in combination (55 patients, THL+LA group) with laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) between 2007 and 2012. Operation time, intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative exhaust time, analgesic use, and the incidence of major complications, hospital stay and cost of hospitalization were compared. Results: The operation time was longer in THL+LA group than in TLH group (p < 0.05), while the intraoperative bleeding volume, postoperative exhaust time, postoperative morbidity, the incidence of major postoperative complications, and hospitalization time were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion: It is safe and feasible for obese patients to undergo simultaneous LA and prophylactic appendectomy, and the combined procedure does not increase the risk of infection of hysterectomy and avoids reoperation of patients due to the recurrence of appendicitis.