Increased use of laparoscopy reduces length of stay and the negative appendicectomy rate: A comparative analysis

Introduction: There has been a large increase in both elective and emergency laparoscopic surgery in Limerick University Hospital overecent years. Surgical services in the region have been centralised over the last 2 years. We sought to ascertain whether increased use of laparoscopy resulted in a change in the length of hospital stay and the rate of histologically normal appendicectomy specimens in cases of right iliac fossa (RIF) pain. Methods: Two prospectively maintained databases were compared. The first related to patients over 11 who were admitted with RIF pain between April1st and May 4th 2007. The second contained similar data from April1st 2011 to May 4th 2011. Results: In the 2007 group (n = 35), 22 patients underwent operations (14 laparoscopic (64%), 8 open (36%)). 6 16 (38%) appendicectomy specimens were negative. In the 2011 group (n = 83) 56 patients underwent operations (40 laparoscopic (71%), 16 open (29%). 11 55 (20%) appendicectomy specimens were negative. Average lengths of stay were not significantly different (4.7 and 4.3 days for the 2007 and 2011 groups respectively, p = 0.3). Conclusion: In line with reconfiguration, there has been an increase in admissions, operations and number of laparoscopic procedures. Length of stay was not different between the two groups. The rate of negative appendicectomy has decreased. Conflict of interest: None Disclosures: None.