Background: Acute Appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common surgical emergencies in children. Its spectrum ranges from simple inflammation to gross perforation.
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, efficacy and merits of using "Needlescopic" approach by using instruments have diameter ≤ 2 mm. as suture grasper devices
Patients and Methods: Needlescopic appendectomy (NA) accomplished for 40 patients with uncomplicated appendicitis, and attended to the Pediatric Surgery Department of Al-Azhar University Hospitals, in Cairo, Egypt, and Mataria Teaching Hospital during the period from May 2019 to February 2020. We used 18-G epidural needle (EN), Veress needle and a thin homemade insulated long diathermy probe (LDP) without any conventional laparoscopic instruments.
Results: NA was attempted in 40 patients equally divided between males and females. Under general anesthesia, the operations were completed without conversion to open appendectomy. Twenty-eight cases were compeleted intra corporeally and 12 cases were completed extra corporeally. Mean operative time was 30.2+4 minutes for intracorporeal and 22.5+ 6 minutes for extra corporeal.
Conclusion: NA was safe, easy and minimally invasive with cosmetic advantages over conventional appendectomy.