[Serious complications following simple appendectomy].

Fulminant phlegmone of the abdominal wall is a very rare, however feared and severe complication, which may develop following open, as well as laparoscopic appendectomies. Most studies and the common opinion consider the open procedures to be of a greater risk of early infectious complications, while the laparoscopic procedures, compared to the open surgeries, show increased rates of intraabdominal complications. Based on their own studies, the authors came to similar conclusions. On their opinion, the different appendix stump management techniques in the both procedure variations (open x laparoscopic) have an important and sometimes underrated impact on the outcome. The above may explain such treatment failures, occassionaly with even fatal outcomes. Such deaths are viewed on particularly negatively by the involved lay public.