Appendix Removal Surgery

An appendix removal surgery or an appendectomy is a procedure for treating appendicitis. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that must be treated as soon as possible. When left untreated, the appendix can burst and result in more health complications. Only a doctor can diagnose whether abdominal pain or discomfort points to appendicitis and whether surgery is needed. Appendectomy can be done as open surgery or laparoscopically, depending on a range of factors.

What is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a tube-shaped organ attached to the large intestine. The exact function of this organ is unknown, but a study released by Midwestern University stated that the appendix might be a reservoir of beneficial gut bacteria. A person can live without an appendix because this organ does not perform any vital functions. Pain in the abdomen is the most common symptom of appendicitis, which you may feel as:

• Pain starting near the belly button and moving lower and to the right.
• A sudden onset of pain that may wake you up if you’re asleep.
• Worsening pain when you move around, cough, breathe deeply or sneeze.
• The kind of pain that may feel different compared to any pain you have felt.

However, some people with appendicitis may not have these usual symptoms, but may experience bowel problems, such as diarrhea, constipation, inability to pass gas and the feeling that passing stool will relieve discomfort. Other symptoms may include fever, appetite loss, vomiting, nausea and abdominal swelling. Talk with a doctor if you or a loved one is experiencing discomfort or pain for a proper diagnosis.

Possible causes of appendicitis may include the following, although in many cases the cause is unclear:

• Blockage in the appendix opening
• Enlarged appendix tissue wall
• Inflammatory bowel disease

In the United States, appendicitis affects an estimated 9 of every 100 people at some point. In fact, this condition is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain that requires surgery. Acute abdominal pain means that symptoms suddenly appear and worsen within a short duration.

How Is Appendicitis Diagnosed?

Your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms, perform physical exams and order imaging and other laboratory tests to diagnose appendicitis. Tell your doctor about:

• When your abdominal pain started
• How bad your pain is
• Where exactly you feel pain
• Other symptoms you experienced along with pain
• Other medical conditions or procedures you’ve had

Your physical exam may include checking for abdominal pain by:

• Gently pressing on your abdomen
• Pressing your right knee while lifting your leg
• Rotating and flexing your leg as you lie on your left side

Digital rectal exam and pelvic exam may also be performed. Blood tests may be done to check for signs of infection and imaging tests may be ordered to confirm if your abdominal pain is caused by appendicitis. Antibiotics may be recommended as treatment for less complicated cases of appendicitis and the doctor will watch for improvement. However, there is a high chance for appendicitis symptoms may occur again. According to the American College of Surgeons, 40% of patients who underwent antibiotic therapy had a second event of appendicitis within a year and needed appendix surgery.

What Is Appendix Surgery?

Appendectomy or appendix surgery is the gold-standard treatment for acute appendicitis. This procedure aims to remove the inflamed appendix before it ruptures. Appendicitis will not happen again once the appendix is removed. Appendectomy is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia so they stay asleep throughout the procedure. The following are approaches to removing the inflamed appendix:

• Laparoscopic appendectomy surgery – involves making small cuts in the abdomen where a laparoscope (a thin tube with attached light and video camera) can be inserted to view the inside of the patient’s abdomen. Additional incisions may be made where surgical tools can be inserted to repair or remove organs and tissues.
• Open laparotomy – involves making a single large incision in the lower-right area of the abdomen to access the appendix.

The length of appendix surgery can vary. Appendix laparoscopic surgery may take up to an hour. The laparoscopic approach has been associated with patients’ shorter post-surgery hospital stay, lower cases of wound infections and less need for painkillers compared to patients who underwent open surgery. However, patients with more severe cases of appendicitis, such as those with abscesses or advanced infections, may benefit more from open surgery. The surgical approach will depend on a range of factors, such as the severity of your condition, overall health and medical examination results.

What To Expect Before Appendix Surgery

An appendectomy is more commonly performed as an emergency procedure. If you are having a scheduled appendix removal, your doctor will provide you with written instructions on how to prepare for your surgery, including not eating or drinking anything for eight hours before surgery. You will be given a sedative and prophylactic antibiotic (to prevent infection) before the appendix removal procedure.

What To Expect After Appendix Surgery

After surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room where your vital signs will be closely monitored. A typical length of hospital stay for patients of laparoscopic surgery is half a day, while it can take about 1.5 days for those who underwent open surgery. Your hospital stay may be longer if you have a ruptured appendix or show other signs of complications.

Appendix surgery recovery time varies for each patient. Follow your surgeon’s instructions about wound care, pain medication, physical activity or when you can return to work or school. You may have loose and watery stools for several days after surgery. Your surgeon will also schedule a follow-up appointment a few weeks after surgery. Contact your surgeon if you have:

• An inability to pass gas or stool for three days
• Watery diarrhea for more than three days
• Pain that does not go away
• Pain that worsens
• A fever
• Intense abdominal pain
• Repeated vomiting
• Redness, swelling, bleeding or foul-smelling drainage from surgical wound

Find an Appendicitis Surgeon

Request an appointment at Nacogdoches Medical Partners in Nacogdoches, TX, for a proper diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain.