Appendix Surgery

picture appendix human body

An appendectomy is surgery to eliminate the appendix when it is contaminated. This condition is called appendicitis. Appendectomy is a typical emergency situation surgery.

What Is an Appendix Surgery?

The appendix is a thin pouch that is attached to the large intestinal tract. It sits in the lower ideal part of your belly. If you have appendicitis, your appendix needs to be removed immediately. If not dealt with, your appendix can burst. This is a medical emergency situation.

There are 2 types of surgery to remove the appendix. The conventional technique is an open appendectomy. A more recent, less intrusive technique is a laparoscopic appendectomy.

  • Laparoscopic Appendix Surgery. This method is less invasive. That indicates it’s done without a large incision. Instead, from 1 to 3 small cuts are made. A long, thin tube called a laparoscope is put into among the lacerations. It has a small camera and medical devices. The specialist takes a look at a TV display to see inside your abdomen and guide the tools. The appendix is gotten rid of through among the cuts.
  • Open Appendix Surgery. A cut or incision about 2 to 4 inches long is made in the lower right-hand side of your belly or abdomen. The appendix is secured through the incision.

During a laparoscopic surgery, your service provider might choose that an open appendectomy is required.

If your appendix has burst and infection has spread, you might need an open appendectomy.

A laparoscopic appendectomy might cause less pain and scarring than an open appendectomy. For either type of surgery, the scar is often hard to see once it has actually recovered.

Both kinds of surgery have low threat of complications. A laparoscopic appendectomy has a much shorter health center stay, shorter recovery time, and lower infection rates.

Why Might I Require an Appendix Surgery?

You may require an appendectomy to remove your appendix if you reveal signs of appendicitis.

Appendicitis is a medical emergency. It is when your appendix ends up being sore, swollen, and contaminated.

If you have appendicitis, there is a serious threat your appendix might burst or burst. This can happen as soon as 48 to 72 hours after you have symptoms. It can cause a severe, deadly infection called peritonitis in your belly.

If you have appendicitis symptoms, look for treatment immediately.

What Are the Dangers of an Appendix Surgery?

Some possible issues of an appendectomy include:

  • Infection and redness and swelling (inflammation) of the belly that can occur if the appendix bursts throughout surgery (peritonitis).
  • Bleeding.
  • Wound infection.
  • Blocked bowels.
  • Injury to neighboring organs.

You may have other risks that are special to you.Be sure to talk about any worried about your health care provider before surgery.

How Do I Get Ready for an Appendix Surgery?

  • Your health care service provider will describe the surgery to you. Ask any concerns you may have.
  • You will be asked to sign an authorization kind that offers your permission to do the surgery. Read the type thoroughly and ask concerns if anything is unclear.
  • Your supplier will ask concerns about your previous health. She or he will also offer you a physical exam. This is to make sure you are in health prior to you have surgery. You might also need blood tests and other diagnostic tests.
  • You have to not eat or consume anything for 8 hours before the surgery. This commonly means no food or drink after midnight.
  • Make sure your supplier has a list of all medicines (recommended and over the counter) and all herbs, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking.
  • You may be offered a medication to assist you unwind (a sedative) prior to the surgery.

Tell your health care supplier if you:

  • Are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
  • Are allergic to or conscious latex, medicines, tape, or anesthesia medications (regional and general).
  • Have a history of bleeding disorders or are taking any blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medications, aspirin, or other medicines that impact blood clot. You may have to stop taking these medicines before surgery.
  • Your health care provider might have other guidelines for you based upon your medical condition.

Appendix Surgery Procedure

In many cases an appendectomy is an emergency situation surgery and will require a hospital stay. You will have either an open appendectomy or a laparoscopic appendectomy. This will depend upon your condition and your healthcare supplier’s practices.

An appendectomy is done while you are given medicines to put you into a deep sleep (under general anesthesia).

Typically, the appendectomy follows this procedure:

  • You will be asked to remove any precious jewelry or other items that might get in the way during surgery.
  • You will be asked to eliminate your clothing and will be provided a gown to use.
  • An IV (intravenous) line will be put in your arm or hand.
  • You will be positioned on the operating table on your back.
  • If there is a lot of hair at the surgical site, it might be clipped off.
  • A tube will be put down your throat to help you breathe. The anesthesiologist will examine your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level throughout the surgery.

Open Appendectomy Procedure

  • A cut or cut will be made in the lower best part of your belly.
  • Your stomach muscles will be separated and the abdominal area will be opened.
  • Your appendix will be tied off with stitches and gotten rid of.
  • If your appendix has burst or burst, your abdomen will be rinsed with seawater (saline).
  • The lining of your abdominal area and your abdominal muscles will be closed with stitches. A small tube might be put in the cut to drain out fluids.

Laparoscopic Appendectomy Procedure

  • A small incision will be produced the tube (laparoscope). More cuts might be made so that other devices can be utilized during surgery.
  • Carbon dioxide gas will be used to inflate your abdomen so that your appendix and other organs can be easily seen.
  • The laparoscope will be put in and your appendix will be found.
  • Your appendix will be tied off with stitches and eliminated through a cut.
  • When the surgery is done, the laparoscope and devices will be gotten rid of. The carbon dioxide will be blurt through the cuts. A small tube might be placed in the cut to drain out fluids.

Treatment completion, both approaches.

Information verified by the iytmed.com team.
  • Your appendix will be sent out to a laboratory to be tested.
  • Your cuts will be closed with stitches or medical staples.
  • A sterilized plaster or dressing will be utilized to cover the wounds.

How Long Does Appendix Surgery Take

It depends upon the approach used. Depending on the degree of inflammation laparoscopic appendectomy takes from 7 mins and as long as about an hour to take an appendix out. In average anywhere in between 15-30 minutes. This does not consist of the time required to set the room up, put the patient to sleep, wake the patient up, and so on. An open appendectomy usually takes from 30 mins to 1 hour.

What Happen After Appendix Surgery?

In the hospital

After surgery, you will be taken to the recovery space. Your health care team will enjoy your vital indications, such as your heart rate and breathing. Your recovery will depend on the kind of surgery that was done and the type of anesthesia you had. As soon as your high blood pressure, pulse, and breathing are stable and you are awake and alert, you will be required to your hospital room.

A laparoscopic appendectomy might be done on an outpatient basis. In this case, you may be released and sent home from the recovery space.

You will have pain medication as required. This might be by prescription or from a nurse. Or you might give it to yourself through a gadget linked to your IV (intravenous) line.

You might have a thin plastic tube that goes through your nose into your stomach. This is used to eliminate stomach fluids and air that you ingest. The tube will be gotten when your bowels are working generally. You will not be able to eat or drink till the tube is removed.

You will be asked to obtain out of bed a couple of hours after a laparoscopic surgery or by the next day after an open surgery.

You may be allowed to consume liquids a couple of hours after surgery. You may gradually have the ability to add more strong foods.

You will establish a follow-up go to with your healthcare carrier. This is often 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.

At home

When you are home, you have to keep the incision clean and dry. Your doctor will give you directions on the best ways to bathe. Any stitches or medical staples utilized will be gotten rid of at a follow-up office check out. If adhesive strips were used, they should be kept dry. They will often fall off in a few days.

The incision and your abdominal muscles may hurt, commonly after extended periods of standing. Take a pain medication as suggested by your provider. Aspirin or other pain medicines may raise your danger of bleeding. Just take medicines that your supplier has accepted.

If you had a laparoscopy, you might feel pain from the carbon dioxide gas that is still in your belly. This pain may last for a couple of days. You must feel a bit better each day.

Your supplier will likely want you to stroll and walk around a bit. But prevent any strenuous activity. Your service provider will tell you when you can return to work and your normal activities.

Call your health care provider if you have any of the following:.

  • Fever or chills.
  • More pain around the incision website.
  • Constant coughing, problem breathing, or shortness of breath.
  • No bowel movement for 2 days or longer.
  • Belly pain, cramping, or swelling.
  • Vomiting.
  • Loss of hunger or not able to eat or drink anything.
  • Watery diarrhea for more than 3 days.
  • Redness, swelling, bleeding, or other drain from the laceration site.

Next steps

Prior to you consent to the test or the treatment see to it you know:.

  • The name of the test or procedure.
  • The reason you are having the test or procedure.
  • The threats and benefits of the test or procedure.
  • When and where you are to have the test or treatment and who will do it.
  • When and how will you get the results.
  • How much will you have to spend for the test or treatment.
Reyus Mammadli

As a healthy lifestyle advisor I try to guide individuals in becoming more aware of living well and healthy through a series of proactive and preventive measures, disease prevention steps, recovery after illness or medical procedures.

Education: Bachelor Degree of Medical Equipment and Electronics.

Health Recovery Tips
Add a comment
  1. M Hayes

    I just had a appendectomy and this is an excellent article!

  2. Reyus Mammadli author

    Thank you. I wish you to be in fit in short time.

  3. Sam Andre

    Appendix removal procedure takes about 40-60 min in total. It depends upon the surgeon however normally the procedure from the time of knife to skin and closing your skin again ought to not go beyond an hour Some can do it much faster and several might spend a little over an hour.

    Sometimes it might take longer in cases of adhesions or some other complications which are unusual.

    Again, open appendectomy is generally less than an hour or about an hour.