LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY - 3-PUNCTURE TECHNIQUE WITH SUSPENSION OF THE APPENDIX IN 19 CASES

Nineteen laparoscopic appendectomies by the same general surgeon are reported, using three trocar sites and suspending the appendix along the right lower quadrant trocar. This approach provides a fourth access site to the appendix without an additional port. Once the position of the appendix is stabilized, the two available ports are used to dissect around the base of the mesoappendix and place a silk ligature with extracorporeal ligating technique. All 19 procedures were completed by endoscopic means and without the use of endoscopic stapling devices, even when the mesoappendix was markedly swollen and edematous. The technique-is presented here as an alterative method when performing laparoscopic appendectomy.