A Quasi-Experimental Study Comparing Outcomes of Open Versus Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Complicated Appendicitis at a Tertiary Care Center, Multan

Objective: To compare the outcome of laparoscopic versus open appendectomy in patients with complicated appendicitis.Study Design: A Quasi-experimental study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of General Surgery, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Multan, Pakistan, from June 2022 to July 2023.Methods: A total of 168 patients were divided into two equal groups: open appendectomy (Group A) and laparoscopic appendectomy (Group B). Appendectomies were performed as per group. Postoperatively, patients were followed for one month. The observed variables included Surgical Site Infection (SSI), length of hospital stay, time taken to regain bowel function, mean operative time, and blood loss.Results: The occurrence of surgical site infection post-operatively was 11 (13.1%) patients in Group A, while Group B had a lower rate of 5(6%) (P=0.115). The mean operative time differed significantly between the two groups, with Group A 43.57 ± 3.27 minutes and Group B 58.49 ± 5.83 minutes (P < 0.001). The mean loss of blood in Group A was 15.01 ± 5.012 ml, compared to 9.98 ± 3.79 ml in Group B (P < 0.001). The time taken for patients to regain bowel function was 3.18 ± 0.679 days in Group A and 3.13 ± 0.555 days in Group B (P = 0.620). Lastly, the length of hospital stay was 5.05 ± 0.820 days in Group A and 4.31 ± 0.514 days in Group B (P < 0.001).Conclusion: Laparoscopic appendectomy demonstrated lower rates of surgical site infection; however, this difference was not statistically significant. It was associated with significantly reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stay.How to cite this: Ansari SA, Malik H, Mustafa MA, Rehman J, Riaz N, Kanwal S. A Quasi-Experimental Study Comparing Outcomes of OpenVersus Laparoscopic Appendectomy in Complicated Appendicitis at a Tertiary Care Center, Multan. Life and Science. 2026; 7(2): 203-209.doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.964