The "classical" symptoms of appendicitis are rarely found, and this most common of surgical emergencies can present a diagnostic conundrum. Laparoscopy was originally used as a diagnostic aid in acute appendicitis, but since the early 1980s, it has been a vehicle for removal of the diseased organ. The technique of laparoscopic appendectomy is described. The literature reviewed and a rationale for the role of this endoscopic technique are discussed.
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