Appendicectomy under local anaesthesia

Abstract

Objective: To analyse our results of appendicectomy 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.