[Acute appendicitis--laparoscopic appendectomy--indications and outcomes].

UNLABELLED: Laparoscopic surgery has been proposed to have diagnostic and therapeutic advantages over conventional surgery. RESULTS: Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) is a safe procedure resulting in shorter hospitalization and sooner return to activity. The relative merits of LA and open appendectomy (OA) are evaluated in this review. There were no differences in postoperative analgesia, resumption of oral intake, or morbidity, but laparoscopic appendectomy is associated with longer operating times and increased cost. Laparoscopic appendectomy is a more expensive alternative but offers advantages related to pain relief, length of stay, return to normal activities, or morbidity. CONCLUSION: In those clinical settings where surgical expertise and equipment are available and affordable, diagnostic laparoscopy and LA (either in combination or separately) seem to have various advantages over OA.