A Complete Guide To Appendectomy

: Admin : 2022-03-04

What Is Appendix?

An appendix is a small, tube-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. It’s located on the lower right side of the abdomen. The exact purpose of the appendix is that it helps us recover from diarrhoea, inflammation, and infections of the small and large intestines. A body can work without an appendix.

What Are The Possible Symptoms Of An Appendicitis?

Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include:

• Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen
• Sudden pain begins around the navel and often shifts to the lower right abdomen
• Pain that worsens if one cough, walks or make other jarring movements
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Abdominal bloating
• Flatulence
• stomach pain that starts suddenly near the belly button and spreads to the lower right side of the abdomen
• abdominal swelling
• rigid abdominal muscles
• low-grade fever

The appendix is higher during pregnancy. Although pain from appendicitis typically occurs in the lower right side of the abdomen pregnant women may have pain in the upper right side of the abdomen.

How Does Appendicitis Occur?

When the appendix becomes inflamed and swollen, bacteria can quickly multiply inside the organ and lead to the formation of pus. This build-up of bacteria and pus can cause pain around the belly button that spreads to the lower right section of the abdomen. Walking or coughing can make the pain worse. One may also experience nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

What Are The Causes And Complications Of An Appendicitis?

A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of appendicitis. The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed, swollen and filled with pus. If not treated promptly, the appendix can rupture.

Appendicitis can cause serious complications, such as:

• A ruptured appendix: A rupture spreads infection throughout the abdomen. It is also called peritonitis. Possibly life-threatening, this condition requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean your abdominal cavity.
• A pocket of pus that forms in the abdomen: If the appendix bursts, one might develop a pocket of infection known as an abscess. In most cases, a surgeon drains the abscess by placing a tube through the abdominal wall into the abscess. The tube is left in place for about two weeks, and the patient is given antibiotics to clear the infection. Once the infection is clear, the patient can have surgery to remove the appendix. In some cases, the abscess is drained, and the appendix is removed immediately.

What is Appendectomy?

An appendectomy is a surgery to remove the infected appendix of a human body. This condition is also called appendicitis. The appendix is a thin pouch that is attached to the large intestine of a human body. It lies in the lower right part of the belly. Appendectomy is a common emergency surgery that is done to remove the appendix.

In this type of situation, one should seek immediately. If the condition goes untreated, the appendix can burst and release bacteria and other harmful substances into the abdominal cavity. This can be life-threatening and will lead to a longer hospital stay.

Appendectomy is the standard treatment and surgery for appendicitis. It’s crucial to remove the appendix right away before the appendix can rupture or burst. Once an appendectomy is performed, most people recover quickly and without complications.

Why Is an Appendectomy Done?

An appendectomy is often done to remove the appendix when an infection has made it inflamed and swollen. This particular condition is known as appendicitis. The infection may occur when the opening of the appendix becomes clogged with bacteria and stool. This causes the appendix to become swollen and inflamed.

The only treatment of appendicitis is to remove the appendix. The appendix could burst if appendicitis isn’t treated immediately and effectively. If the appendix ruptures, the bacteria and faecal particles within the organ can spread into the abdomen. This may lead to a serious infection called peritonitis. The patient can also develop an abscess if the appendix ruptures. Both are life-threatening situations that require immediate surgery.

How Should One Prepare For An Appendectomy?

Appendectomy is one of the most crucial surgeries. One should avoid eating and drinking for at least eight hours before the appendectomy. It’s also important to tell the doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications the patient is taking. The doctor might suggest how they should be used before and after the procedure. If a patient is pregnant, she should consult the doctor without any delay. If someone is allergic or sensitive to latex or certain medications, such as anaesthesia or have a history of bleeding disorders, they must consult the doctor before the surgery. One should also arrange for a family member or friend to drive one home after the procedure. An appendectomy is often performed using general anaesthesia, which can make the patient drowsy and unable to drive for several hours after surgery.

Before surgery, the doctor will ask the patient about one’s medical history and perform a physical examination. During the exam, the doctor will gently push against the patient’s abdomen to pinpoint the source of the abdominal pain. The doctor might prescribe certain blood tests and imaging tests if appendicitis is caught early. However, these tests may not be performed if the doctor believes an emergency appendectomy is necessary.

Before the surgery, the patient will be hooked up to an IV so that the patient can receive fluids and medication. General anaesthesia is given to the patient which numbs the area, so even though the patient will be awake during the surgery, they won’t feel any pain.

How Is an Appendectomy Performed?

An appendectomy is performed by two procedures. They are open and laparoscopic. The type of surgery for the patient depends on several factors, including the severity of appendicitis and the patient’s medical history.

• Open Appendectomy

During an open appendectomy, a surgeon makes one incision in the lower right side of the patient’s abdomen. The appendix is removed and the wound is closed with stitches. This procedure allows the doctor to clean the abdominal cavity if the appendix has burst.

The doctor might choose an open appendectomy if the appendix has ruptured and the infection has spread to other organs. It’s also the preferred option for people who have had abdominal surgery in the past. The open Appendectomy is risky and takes a long time for recovery.

• Laparoscopic Appendectomy

During a laparoscopic appendectomy, a surgeon accesses the appendix through a few small incisions in the abdomen. A small, narrow tube called a cannula will then be inserted. The cannula is used to inflate the patient’s abdomen with carbon dioxide gas. This gas allows the surgeon to see the appendix more clearly. Once the abdomen is inflated, an instrument called a laparoscope will be inserted through the incision. The laparoscope is a long, thin tube with a high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera at the front. The camera will display the images on a screen, allowing the surgeon to see inside the patient’s abdomen and guide the instruments. When the appendix is found, it will be tied off with stitches and removed. The small incisions are then cleaned, closed, and dressed.

Laparoscopic surgery is usually the best option for older adults and people who are overweight. It has fewer risks than an open appendectomy procedure and generally has a shorter recovery time.

What To Expect Post Appendectomy?

When the appendectomy is over, the patient is observed for several hours before they are released from the hospital. The vital signs are monitored closely. Hospital staff will also check for any adverse reactions to the anaesthesia or the procedure. The timing of a patient’s release mainly depends on the patient’s overall physical condition, the type of appendectomy performed and the body’s reaction to the surgery. In some cases, the patient mighty has to remain in the hospital overnight.

The patient might be able to go home the same day as the surgery if the appendicitis isn’t severe. A family member or friend will need to drive the patient home if they receive general anaesthesia. The effects of general anaesthesia usually take several hours to wear off, so it can be unsafe to drive after the procedure.

After a few days of the appendectomy, the patient might feel moderate pain in the areas where incisions were made. Any pain or discomfort should improve within a few days. The doctor may prescribe medication to relieve the pain. They might also prescribe antibiotics to prevent an infection after surgery. They can further reduce the risk for infection by keeping the incisions clean. One should immediately consult a doctor if the symptoms like redness and swelling around the incision, fever above 101°F, chills, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation that lasts for more than two days persists.

Although there’s a small risk of infection, most people recover from appendicitis and an appendectomy with little difficulty. Full recovery from an appendectomy takes about four to six weeks. During this time, your doctor will probably recommend limiting physical activity so that the body can heal. One needs to attend a follow-up appointment with the doctor within two to three weeks after the appendectomy.

What Can Be The Possible Risks Of Appendectomy?

Risks of anaesthesia and surgery for an appendectomy include:

• Reactions to medicines
• Problems breathing
• Bleeding, blood clots, or infection
• Risks of an appendectomy after a ruptured appendix include:
• A build-up of pus is an abscess that may need draining and antibiotics
• Infection of the incision.

How Should Be The Lifestyle Of The Patient And Home Remedies Post Appendectomy?

 A patient should expect a few weeks of recovery from an appendectomy, or longer if the appendix burst. One should follow these steps for a speedy recovery and lead a healthy lifestyle.

• One should avoid strenuous activity at first.: If the appendectomy was done laparoscopically, one must limit the activity for three to five days. If the patient had an open appendectomy, they should limit the activity for 10 to 14 days. One should always ask the doctor about limitations on the activity and when they can resume normal activities after surgery.
• Supporting the abdomen while coughing: One should place a pillow over the abdomen and apply pressure before coughing, laughing or moving to help reduce pain.
• Call the doctor if the pain medications aren't helping: Being in pain puts extra stress on the body and slows the healing process. If the patient is still in pain despite the pain medications, one must call their doctor.
• One must get up and move when they are ready: One should start slowly and increase the activity as they feel up to it. One may start with short walks.
• Sleep when tired: As the body heals, one might find that they feel sleepier than usual. One should not panic but take it easy and rest when they need to.
• One can drink tea made from fenugreek seeds on a daily basis to prevent the accumulation of intestinal waste and excess mucus.
• Consuming honey and lemon juice: One should consume an equal quantity of honey and lemon juice to prevent indigestion during appendicitis.
• Drinking water: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is essential for a healthy appendix.
• Buttermilk is very effective in preventing the bacterial growth in the appendix. one can consume a litre of buttermilk daily.
• Constipation may lead to inflammation of the appendix. Having a high fiber diet full of fruits and green leafy vegetables is the best way to avoid this condition.
• A decoction of basil or Tulsi leaves can be taken if the appendicitis patient suffers from fever.
• Discuss returning to work or school with the doctor: One should return to work when they fully feel ready. Children may be able to return to school less than a week after surgery. They should wait two to four weeks to resume strenuous activity, such as gym classes or sports.