BACKGROUND: Kurt Semm, a German gynecologist, was first to describe a laparoscopic appendectomy for an incidental appendectomy in gynecologic surgery. At that time, it was limited to an incidental appendectomy performed during gynecologic surgery. The development of laparoscopic instruments and more experience has allowed surgeons to perform laparoscopic surgery easier than before. Nowadays, laparoscopy allows surgeons to perform appendectomies in a safe and effective way, and it reduces the risk of performing unnecessary appendectomies. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 201 patients who had an appendectomy at our hospital from February 1997 to December 1997. A laparoscopic appendectomy was carried out in 51 cases, and an open appendectomy was carried out in the others. RESULTS: 1) There was not a significant difference between the two groups in regard to age and sex. The male-to-female ratios were 1.32:1 in laparoscopic appendectomy group and 1.17:1 in the open appendectomy group. The mean ages were 30.3 years in laparoscopic appendectomy group and 29.7 years in open appendectomy group. 2) There was not a significant difference in pathologic severity between the two groups. The majority had suppurative appendicitis in both groups. Postoperative complications were less frequent in the open appendectomy group. 3) The mean operative times were 55.6 minutes in the laparoscopic appendectomy group and 42 minutes in the open appendectomy group. 4) The mean hospital stays were 4.69 days in the laparoscopic appendectomy group and 6.96 days in the open appendectomy group. 5) The mean postoperative periods until normal activity were 8.79 days in the laparoscopic appendectomy group and 12.85 days in the open appendectomy group. 6) The postoperative use of analgesics was less frequent in the laparoscopic appendectomy group. 7) Conversion to an open laparotomy occurred in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: We think that a laparoscopic appendectomy is a safer, more effective, more cosmetic, and less invasive procedure than an open appendectomy.
Analgesics ; Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period

Effective treatment of hypotension during induction of general anesthesia depends onhow well the many causes of the hypotension are understood. However, differential diagnosis of hypotension is by no means easy, especially when the prevalenceof hypotension is low or when the patient is asymptomatic. A 75 year-old female, upon induction of general anesthesia for open thoracic surgery, became hypotensive and showed generalized erythematous papules, therefore having to postpone the surgery. Upon further evaluation through skin prick tests, the hypotensive event was concluded to be caused by anaphylactic side effects of atracurium. Hence, atracurium was avoided and the surgery was successfully performed.
Anaphylaxis ; Anesthesia, General ; Atracurium ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Skin ; Thoracic Surgery

One-lung ventilation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube or a Univent(R) tube may be difficult or dangerous in small patients, children, and patients with anatomic abnormalities of the airway. The use of a bronchial blocker through a single-lumen endotracheal tube has been used successfully in such situations. A 69-year-old woman was scheduled for Ivor-Lewis operation and right upper lobectomy. She could not be intubated with a internal diameter 6.0 mm Univent(R) tube owing to narrow diameter of the vocal cord. We report a successful one-lung ventilation using a Uniblocker(R) through an adult-size single-lumen endotracheal tube in a small woman, who needed postoperative ventilator care.
Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Vocal Cords