Laparoscopic appendectomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of laparoscopic appendectomy in women with chronic pelvic pain and to identify histopathology of the appendix. DESIGN: Retrospective review over 6.5 years (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). SETTING: Laparoscopic center and community hospital. PATIENTS: Three hundred seventeen women. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic appendectomy in conjunction with other procedures. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 317 patients who underwent appendectomy, 14 (4.4%) had involvement of the appendix with endometriosis, 12 (3.78%) had early acute appendicitis, 4 (1.26%) had carcinoid tumors of the appendix, 2 (0.63%) had a large mucocele, and 1 (0.9%) each had Enterobius vermicularis infection, benign neuroma, and mucinous cystadenoma. Seventy-eight women (24.6%) had obliteration of the appendiceal lumen and 22 (6.93%) had entrapping fibrous adhesions. Thirty-two patients (10%) reported relief of chronic pelvic pain in the absence of other pathology just by having diagnostic laparoscopy with appendectomy. CONCLUSION: The appendix is a key organ in the evaluation of undiagnosed chronic pelvic pain.