OBJECTIVE: To analyse our results of appendicetomy under local anaesthesia. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, India. SUBJECTS: 165 patients who presented with appendicitis between January 1996 and December 1997. INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Appendicectomy after infiltration of local anaesthetic. No patient required general or spinal anaesthesia. RESULT: Five patients (3%) developed postoperative wound infections. Mean operating time was 20 minutes (range 15-30) and median hospital stay 2 days (range 1-3). CONCLUSION: Appendicectomy under local anaesthesia is quick, cost-effective and carries little morbidity. It can be safely used for all age groups.
OBJECTIVE: To analyse our results of appendicetomy under local anaesthesia. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University hospital, India. SUBJECTS: 165 patients who presented with appendicitis between January 1996 and December 1997. INTERVENTION AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Appendicectomy after infiltration of local anaesthetic. No patient required general or spinal anaesthesia. RESULT: Five patients (3%) developed postoperative wound infections. Mean operating time was 20 minutes (range 15-30) and median hospital stay 2 days (range 1-3). CONCLUSION: Appendicectomy under local anaesthesia is quick, cost-effective and carries little morbidity. It can be safely used for all age groups.