Open versus laparoscopic appendectomy: a prospective randomised comparison

This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. Laparoscopic appendectomy was comparable to open appendectomy in terms of rates of complications, length of hospital stay, cost, time to return to activity, and time to return to work. There was a greater operative time involved with the laparoscopic technique. Laparoscopic appendectomy does not offer any significant benefit over the open approach for the routine patient with appendicitis.