Laparoscopic Appendectomies at Brazzaville University Hospital

Introduction: Acute appendicitis represents an urgent surgical condition, requiring the removal of the vermiform appendix. Laparoscopy is the standard surgical approach. This study aimed to outline the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and outcome characteristics of patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery for acute appendicitis. Patients and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective analysis was carried out in the Emergency and Digestive Surgery departments of the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville, spanning two years from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022. The study included all patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for non-complicated acute appendicitis. Results: The study included 12 cases of non-complicated acute appendicitis treated with urgent laparoscopy. The mean age of the patients was 37 ± 8.9 years, with a sex ratio of 0.7. The predominant symptom leading to consultation was pain in the right iliac fossa, with an average time to consultation of 6.4 ± 5.7 hours. Patient histories included diabetes in one case, obesity in two cases, and one case of prior abdominoplasty. During surgery, a phlegmonous appendix was observed in nine patients. The average duration of hospital stay was 3.6 ± 1.3 days, with all patients experiencing uncomplicated recoveries. Conclusion: The practice of emergency laparoscopic appendectomy is still relatively infrequent in our setting and presents an ongoing challenge.