No obvious advantages for thoracoscopic two-stage oesophagectomy

✍ Scribed by R. Britten-Jones

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1996
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 130 KB
• Volume: 83
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-1323
• DOI: 10.1002/bjs.1800831055

✦ Synopsis

incomplete removal of the appendix laparoscopically, we agree that recurrent appendicitis after appendicectomy is not peculiar to the laparoscopic approach. We are aware of a case of 'recurrent appendicitis' 10 years after open appendicectomy. A 32-year-old woman presented with clinical signs of infection and a painful induration around a 10-cm long old appendicectomy scar. At laparotomy, we found a growth of inflammatory and granulation tissue through the abdominal wall between caecum and the subcutaneous layer. An ileocaecal resection was performed and the postoperative course was uneventful'. As the histological examination confirmed our suspicion, we believe that the appendicectomy 10 years previously did not remove the organ as completely as it should have.

Especially, but not exclusively, in the laparoscopic era we would like to emphasize the importance of careful identification of the appendix base and complete resection. A 'recurrent appendicitis' may occur after a short time, or very late after the first surgical procedure, as in our patient.