A Randomized Comparative Study of Peritoneal Closure versus Non-Closure During Open Appendicectomy

Background: Open appendicectomy is still commonly performed, particularly in hospitals with limited resources. Traditionally, the peritoneum is closed to restore normal anatomy and to reduce adhesions. However, recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that leaving the peritoneum open may shorten surgery time and reduce postoperative discomfort without increasing complications. Objectives: To compare peritoneal closure and non-closure during open appendicectomy in terms of operative time, postoperative pain, need for analgesics, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications. Methods: This randomized controlled study was carried out at a tertiary care teaching hospital in South India between October 2017 and October 2018. A total of 200 patients with uncomplicated acute appendicitis undergoing open appendicectomy were randomly divided into two groups: peritoneal closure (Group A, n=100) and peritoneal non-closure (Group B, n=100). Outcomes assessed were operative duration, postoperative pain measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), analgesic requirement, postoperative complications, and length of hospital stay. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, and a p-value