Appendectomy Surgery

What is an Appendectomy?

An appendix is a pouch attached to the large intestine that is located in the bottom right corner of your abdomen. When the appendix becomes infected, emergency surgery is performed to remove it, known as Appendectomy. If you develop appendicitis, your appendix must be removed as soon as possible because when left untreated, your appendix can rupture. Appendicitis is a medical situation that requires immediate attention.

Who performs Appendectomy?

An appendectomy is performed by a General Surgeon on adults and by a Pediatric Surgeon on children.

Types of Appendectomy

There are 2 methods for removing an appendix. An open appendectomy is a conventional procedure. In comparison, Laparoscopic Appendectomy is a newer, less invasive procedure.

Open Appendectomy: A 2 to 4-inch extended cut or incision is made on the bottom right side of your stomach or abdomen. Through the incision, the appendix is removed.
Laparoscopic Appendectomy: This technique is less invasive, meaning it is performed without the use of a significant incision. Instead, 1 to 3 microscopic incisions are made, and the appendix is removed through one of them.

Preparations before Appendectomy

It is recommended that you prepare your body for treatment in the following ways before your Appendectomy:

Avoid eating and drinking for at least 8 hours before the Appendectomy.
Tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter(OTC) medications you’re taking.
Inform if you are allergic or sensitive to latex or certain medications, such as anesthesia.
You will receive fluids through an IV and will be given general or local anesthesia before the operation.

How long does Appendectomy take?

An average appendectomy usually takes up to 1 hour.

Risks associated with Appendectomy

The following are some of the potential problems of an appendectomy:

Bleeding
Infection on wound
Infection, redness, and swelling of the abdomen can develop if the appendix bursts during surgery.
Bowel blockage
Organ damage in the area

You may face additional risks that are specific to your condition. Before the surgery, make sure to share any concerns you have with your healthcare professional.

Appendectomy Benefits

It’s important that you seek treatment right away if you’re having any symptoms of appendicitis. If this condition is not treated timely, the appendix can burst and release bacteria and other harmful substances into the abdominal cavity. This can be life-threatening and thus it's crucial to remove the appendix right away before the appendix can rupture.

Appendectomy Recovery

Appendix surgery recovery or appendectomy recovery time is shorter and you can expect to leave the hospital one or two days after surgery. However, the full recovery time for an appendectomy is a few weeks. After having appendix surgery, you should make sure to not lift heavy objects or participate in strenuous activity for three to five days even for 10 to 14 days in case open appendix surgery.

To keep the pain minimalized, support your abdomen with a pillow or other soft object when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or make other abdominal movements. Some other things that you can do for your quick recovery are:

Do rest and give yourself time for healing.
Wash your hands before and after touching your incision area.
Avoid baths until your stitches are removed.
Don't wear tight or rough clothing and
Take part in engaging activities, such as music or games, to distract you from your pain.

If the procedure is done through laparoscopy, the recovery time is even quicker.