The appendix is a small organ located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. As its name implies, it is an "appendix" to the right colon, and to this day it is unknown if it plays any vital role in the human body.
Appendicitis is very common and appendectomy is one of the most common surgeries among surgeries. Appendectomy is usually performed as an emergency surgery, but can also be performed as a planned and non-urgent manner ('elective').
When should the appendix be excised?
Acute inflammation of the appendix (appendicitis) is a medical emergency. Inflammation causes swelling and pain in the appendix area, and if not treated in time, can become complicated and create an abscess, and even lead to a rupture of the appendix. Its rupture may lead to an infection in the abdominal cavity (peritonitis), the treatment of which includes more extensive surgery.
Therefore, when diagnosing acute appendicitis, it is customary to perform urgent emergency surgery to remove it.
Occasionally, certain complaints or conditions, such as chronic (prolonged) inflammation of the appendix or suspicion of a lesion, can be treated as part of the appendix resection as a planned surgery, rather than an emergency surgery.
The course of the surgery
Three tiny incisions are made on the abdominal wall to allow for laparoscopic access - in which an additional tiny camera is inserted into the necessary surgical tools.
Once the inflamed appendix is located, it is excised through the same tiny incisions. The appendix is sent for tissue examination (pathology).
It should be noted that certain medical conditions do not apply to the laparoscopic approach and require open access. Sometimes the decision to transition from laparoscopic to open surgery is made during the surgery itself.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and lasts about an hour.
Preparation before surgery
In most cases, the surgery is performed urgently after the appendicitis is diagnosed. An evaluation by a surgeon will include past illnesses, regular medications and known allergies, as well as an assessment of the inflammatory condition in their appendix.
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and an anesthesiologist must perform an evaluation before the operation. You should be in complete food fast mode as per the instructions of the medical staff.
Recovery after resection of the appendix
In most cases, it is possible to return home after the appendix has been removed as early as a day after the operation, in the absence of complications or a complex illness. surgical wound hygiene must be maintained in the surgical site Painkillers can also be taken as needed and as recommended by the staff.
Sometimes discomfort is felt in the abdominal cavity due to the use of gas during surgery; This feeling passes after a few days. The pathology results from the biopsied sample are sent around 3 weeks post surgery.
Possible complications
After resection of the appendix, bleeding or infection may develop at the surgical site or in the abdominal cavity. A rupture of the appendix during surgery may lead to diffuse inflammation in the abdomen.
In rare cases, organs adjacent to their appendix are injured during surgery. After surgery, there may be a bowel obstruction that may go away on its own. The surgical team will explain all possible complications.
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