Background: A comparative study was performed to compare quality of life after laparoscopic and open\r\nappendectomy in children and adolescents in a German General Hospital. The same study population was\r\nre-evaluated regarding their quality of life several years after operation.\r\nMethods: Children and adolescents (n = 158) who underwent appendectomy for acute appendicitis between 1999\r\nand 2001 were retrospectively analysed. Seven years after surgery those patients were interviewed applying a SF-36\r\nquestionnaire regarding their quality of life.\r\nResults: For short term outcomes there was a trend towards reduced specific postoperative complications in the\r\nlaparoscopically operated group (9.3 vs. 10.7%). Significantly more patients in the laparoscopic group would\r\nrecommend the operation procedure to family members or friends than in the open group. Among the evaluated\r\npatients there was a significantly higher satisfaction concerning size and appearance of their scars in the\r\nlaparoscopic group. The results of the evaluation in the eight categories of the SF-36 showed similar results in both\r\ngroups.\r\nConclusions: More patients with laparoscopic appendectomy appeared to be satisfied with their operation method\r\nas becomes evident by a higher recommendation rate and a higher satisfaction concerning their scars.
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