Use of Polymeric Clip (Hem-O-Lock) for Appendiceal Stump Ligation as a Favorable Technique in Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Background Laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) has become the standard choice for acute appendicitis. Several techniques to close the appendiceal stump were investigated, and use of polymeric clips, are shown safe and cost effective. Objectives Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of appendiceal stump closure with polymeric clips in LA. Methods This is a retrospective cohort study included 35 patients who underwent LA, between April 2013 and August 2016 in Rasool-e-Akram university hospital. appendiceal stumps ligation were performed by polymeric clips. One month follow up after surgery was performed for all patients. Demographic information of patinets, surgery, complications, readmission and pathological reports, were collected from medical records and data base. Results Thirty-five patients were included in this retrospective study. Nineteen patients were male and 16 patients were female (54.3% vs 45.7%). The mean age was 28.49 ± 9.56 years, mean operative time was 59.6 ± 11.8 minutes and mean hospitalization was 2.54 ± 0.7 days. There was no intraoperative complication and intraabdominal abscess formation. Also no readmission and no perioperative death were recorded in documents. In pathologic reports, there were 15 (42.8%) suppurative and one gangrenous (2.8%) appendicitis. Conclusions Application of polymeric clips for stump ligation is safe, cost effective and time saving, and could be used as favorable technique in LA.