Out-of-Hours Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A Risk Factor for Postoperative Complications in Acute Appendicitis?

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The surgical environment can influence the clinical outcomes of procedures and patient conditions. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate how surgical timing affects short-term outcomes in emergency laparoscopic appendectomy for acute appendicitis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> A total of 647 patients with acute appendicitis who underwent emergency laparoscopic appendectomy at Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital between January 2018 and June 2021 were included in this study. The study cohort was divided into the following two groups based on the timing of surgery: work hours and out-of-hours (weekends, holidays, or weekday nights). Clinical outcomes were then compared between the groups. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Work-hour and out-of-hours appendectomies were performed in 282 and 365 patients, respectively. Baseline characteristics and types of appendicitis were similar between the groups (complicated appendicitis: 26.6% in the work-hours group versus 30.4% in the out-of-hours group, <i>P</i> = .288). Operation times were comparable (35.10 minutes versus 34.33 minutes, <i>P</i> = .620), with no cases requiring conversion to open appendectomy in either group. The overall rate of 30-day postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the groups (7.8% versus 10.4%, <i>P</i> = .849). The severity of postoperative complications, categorized by the modified Clavien-Dindo classification, did not show significant differences between the groups (<i>P</i> = .849). In addition, the time to functional recovery was similar in both groups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The clinical outcomes of out-of-hours laparoscopic appendectomy were similar to those of procedures performed during working hours. Therefore, scheduling emergency surgery can be determined based on the patient's condition and the hospital's capacity to manage acute appendicitis.