1 Nov 2016Article
The type of specimen retrieval in laparoscopic appendectomy affects wound infection
Huseyin Aytac 1Nurkan Torer 1Ilker Arer 2
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of General Surgery, Assistant Professor, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey
2 Department of General Surgery, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Turkey
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2016, 87(6), 572-576;
Published: 1 Nov 2016
Copyright © 2016 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the role of laparoscopy in appendicitis and importance of wound protection in this sense. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 506 patients operated on by either open or laparoscopic appendectomy within the last four years were evaluated retrospectively for wound infection rates. Those had laparoscopic surgery were also subgrouped and analyzed in terms of retrieval type of the specimen. RESULTS: Wound infection rate was 5.7% for open appendectomy and zero for laparoscopic appendectomy in minimal or non-inflamed cases. For suppurative appendicitis and gangrenous or perforated cases wound infection rates were 9.1% versus 17.6% for open appendectomy versus laparoscopy. Laparoscopy without wound protection increased these rates to 17.9% versus 50%, where as wound protection reduced both to zero. DISCUSSION: Laparoscopy itself was protective for wound infection in non-inflamed or minimally inflamed appendectomy cases with respect to open surgery. However, for suppurative, gangrenous or perforated appendicitis, laparoscopy protects from wound infection only when contact of the specimen with incisions was avoided. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopy reduces wound infection rates in appendectomy. This advantage is prominent especially wound contamination with the specimen is prevented anywise. Using a glove finger, as a tissue bag for the retrieval of the specimen has been our favorite method that we defined as “reverse cover-up technique”.
Keywords
- Glove bag
- Glove finger
- Laparoscopic appendectomy
- Specimen retrieval
- Tissue bag
- Wound protection