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. Some of the clinical effects of LA, however, are small and of limited clinical relevance. In spite of the mediocre quality of the available research data, we would generally recommend to use laparoscopy and LA in patients with suspected appendicitis unless laparoscopy itself is contraindicated or not feasible. Especially young female, obese, and employed patients seem to benefit from LA.
Laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in females with a clinical diagnosis of appendicitis.
Appendectomy can be performed using either a laparoscopic technique (LT) or an open technique (OT). We compared the following items operative, anesthesia, length of stay, post-operative pain, medicine, wound healing, days to return to normal activity in both groups.
                This study was carried out at King Fahad Hospital, Hofuf, Al-Hassa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from January 1999 to April 2000. We randomly assigned 60 female patients to appendectomy by LT or OT. The 2 groups were compared concerning demographic data. The differences were considered statistically significant at a P value < 0.05.
                The open group had shorter anesthesia and operative time (68, 50 versus 85, 65 minutes). The laparoscopic group had a significant reduced postoperative narcotic requirement (P<0.05), quicker reintroduction of diet and quicker return to normal activity.
                Laparoscopic appendectomy in female patients with clinical diagnosis of appendicitis is the procedure of choice for the diagnosis and the management of acute appendicitis.