Laparoscopic appendectomy is recommended for the treatment of complicated appendicitis in children.

Laparoscopic appendectomy in children is well accepted for the treatment of non complicated appendicitis. An increased risk of postoperative intraabdominal abcess formation has been reported in complicated appendicitis. The puropose of this study was to compare open (OA) versus laparoscopic appendectomies (LA) in complicated appendicitis in children and to assess the safety and feasibility of LA. The hospital records of 118 consecutive patients who underwent appendectomy for complicated appendicitis (perforated/gangrenous) from 2000 to 2006 were retrospectively analysed. Fifty-four patients had LA and 64 underwent OA. There were 74 males and 44 females. The length of hospital stay ranged from 4 to 12 days in the LA group and 4 to 17 days in the OA group. Five patients (9.2%) in the LA group had post operative complications; intraabdominal collections in 3 and wound infections in 2. Ten patients (15.6%) had postoperative complications in the OA group; intraabdominal collections in 5, wound infection in 3, pleural effusion in 1 and prolonged ileus in 1. In complicated appendicitis the complication rate is lower for LA as compared to OA. We recommend laparoscopic approach to all children presenting with complicated appendicitis.