Apparatus and method for colonoscopic appendectomy

摘要

A kit for performing removal of a vermiform appendix (20) from a patient comprises an elongated flexible element (140) extending between a proximal end and a distal end, means (150) attached to the distal end of the elongated flexible element for anchoring the distal end to interior walls of a central lumen (26) defined by the appendix when the distal end is disposed within the central Lumen, a tubular element (100) defining a central Lumen adapted for receiving a colonoscope (90), and means for ligating or cutting (168) the appendix at the appendix Base after the appendix is inverted into the cecum (12). A method for performing removal of a vermiform appendix from patient comprises positioning a colonoscope into the cecum of the patient, irrigating the central lumen of the appendix, guiding a distal end of an elongated flexible element into the central lumen of the appendix, wherein the flexible element comprises anchoring means anchoring the distal end to the interior walk of the appendix, providing counterforce against the appendix base, pulling the elongated flexible element toward the cecum, wherein the elongated flexible element draws the appendix into the cecum, and ligating or cutting the appendix.