Port-exteriorization appendectomy (PEA): a preliminary report.

Between 1994 and 1999, 121 patients with the clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis were operated upon at our institute, 70 by conventional appendectomy and 51 by laparoscopic procedures. There were no significant differences in the demographic data, but the percentage of complicated appendicitis operated upon laparoscopically (47%) was higher than in those operated upon conventionally (35.6%). In 13 children a new laparoscopy-assisted technique was used, which entails exteriorization of the inflamed appendix via a right-iliac-fossa port and a complete appendectomy outside the abdominal cavity. The new technique proved to be useful in all types of appendiceal pathology; there were shorter operative times and hospital stays and it avoids the drawbacks associated with operating in complicated appendicitis.