Intraoperative motive for performing a laparoscopic appendectomy on a postoperative histological proven normal appendix.

Background: Diagnostic laparoscopy is the ultimate tool to evaluate the appendix. However, the intraoperative evaluation of the appendix is difficult, as the negative appendectomy rate remains 12%-18%. The aim of this study is to analyze the intraoperative motive for performing a laparoscopic appendectomy of an appendix that was proven to be noninflamed after histological examination.

Methods: In 2008 and 2009, in five hospitals, operation reports of all negative laparoscopic appendectomies were retrospectively analyzed in order to assess the intraoperative motive for removing the appendix.

Results: A total of 1,465 appendectomies were analyzed with an overall negative appendectomy rate of 9% (132/1,465). In 57% (841/1,465), a laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, with 9% (n = 75) negative appendectomies. In 51% of the negative appendectomies, the visual assessment of the appendix was decisive in performing the appendectomy. In 33%, the surgeon was in doubt whether the appendix was inflamed or normal. In 4%, the surgeon was aware he removed a healthy appendix, and in 9%, an appendectomy was performed for different reasons.

Conclusion: In more than half of the microscopic healthy appendices, the surgeon was convinced of the diagnosis appendicitis during surgery. Intraoperative laparoscopic assessment of the appendix can be difficult.