APPENDECTOMY IN THE BRAZILIAN PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM: A COMPARISON BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL SURGERY AND LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY

Abstract

This article aimed to describe the profile of hospitalizations for appendectomy in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and to compare the distribution, temporal trend, and hospital mortality between conventional and videolaparoscopic techniques from 2013 to 2022. This is an ecological time-series study using secondary data from the Hospital Information System. Hospitalizations for conventional and videolaparoscopic appendectomy during the period were included. Descriptive analyses were performed, calculating the cumulative number of hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants according to region, using the 2022 population as a reference, and simple linear regression was used to assess the temporal trend. A total of 1,129,890 appendectomies were performed, of which 94.2% corresponded to the conventional technique. A progressive growth in videolaparoscopy was observed, with a high linear fit. The minimally invasive technique was concentrated in the South and Southeast regions. Average mortality rates were lower in videolaparoscopy (0.08%) compared to conventional (0.25%). It was concluded that the conventional technique remains predominant, although videolaparoscopy shows growth and regional inequalities in technological incorporation.