Trocar Port Placement
Placeholder: three small ports give camera and instrument access.
- 3: Typical port count (umbilical + two working)
- 5–12 mm: Port diameter (vs 6–10 cm open incision)
- 12–15: Pneumoperitoneum pressure (mmHg CO₂)
- <3 cm: Skin incision total (combined across ports)
Placeholder heading: port siting
Placeholder sentence describing trocar placement briefly.
Placeholder key insight about port placement.
Placeholder heading: pneumoperitoneum
Placeholder sentence about CO2 insufflation and visualization.
Mesoappendix Division
Placeholder: mesoappendix vessels sealed and divided sequentially.
- Appendiceal a.: Primary vessel (branch of ileocolic)
- Energy device: Sealing method (bipolar / ultrasonic)
- 10–20 min: Typical duration (this stage only)
- <20 mL: Blood loss (minimal invasive average)
Placeholder heading: vessel control
Placeholder sentence about sealing the appendiceal artery.
Placeholder key insight about mesoappendix division.
Placeholder heading: tissue plane
Placeholder sentence about freeing appendix from mesentery.
Appendiceal Stump Stapling
Placeholder: endoscopic stapler ligates and transects the base.
- Endo-GIA: Closure method (or Endoloop ligature)
- 3: Staple rows (staggered titanium rows)
- <1%: Stump leak rate (reported literature)
- Endoloop: Alternative (for simple appendicitis)
Placeholder heading: stapler firing
Placeholder sentence about stapling across the appendix base.
Placeholder key insight about stump security.
Placeholder heading: cecal margin
Placeholder sentence about preserving healthy cecal tissue.
Specimen Extraction
Placeholder: specimen bagged and pulled through an enlarged port.
- Endo-bag: Retrieval device (prevents wound contamination)
- Umbilical port: Extraction site (widened as needed)
- <3%: Wound infection risk (with bag use)
- Pathology: Specimen sent to (routine histology)
Placeholder heading: bag retrieval
Placeholder sentence about containing the specimen safely.
Placeholder key insight about contamination control.
Placeholder heading: closure
Placeholder sentence about closing fascia and skin ports.
Recovery vs Open Approach
Placeholder: laparoscopic recovery outpaces open appendectomy.
- 1–2 days: Hospital stay (lap) (vs 3–5 open)
- ~1 week: Return to work (lap) (vs 2–3 weeks open)
- ~3%: Wound infection (lap) (vs ~8% open)
- ~2 weeks: Full recovery (lap) (vs ~4 weeks open)
Placeholder heading: pain and mobility
Placeholder sentence comparing early postoperative pain.
Placeholder key insight about faster discharge.
Placeholder heading: long-term outcome
Placeholder sentence about scarring and hernia risk difference.