Appendectomy

An appendectomy is surgery to remove the appendix.

Description

The appendix is a small, finger-shaped sac extending from the first part of the large intestine. It is removed when it becomes inflamed or infected. An infected appendix can leak and infect the entire abdominal area, which can be deadly.

An appendectomy is done under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep and do not feel any pain during the surgery. The surgeon makes a small cut in the lower right side of your belly area and removes the appendix.

Appendectomy

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If the appendix ruptured or a pocket of infection (abscess) formed, your abdomen will be thoroughly washed out during surgery. A small tube may be left in the belly area to help drain out fluids or pus.

Indications

An emergency appendix removal will be needed if you have symptoms of sudden (acute) appendicitis. These symptoms include:

Abdominal pain (located in the lower right side)
Fever
Reduced appetite
Nausea and vomiting

If you have symptoms of appendicitis seek immediate emergency medical help. Untreated sudden (acute) appendicitis can be deadly. Do not use heating pads, enemas, laxatives, or other home treatments to try and relieve symptoms.

Your health care provider will examine your abdomen and rectum to check for a swollen appendix. Blood tests, including a white blood cell count (WBC), may be done to check for infection.

There is no actual test to confirm appendicitis. It is important to understand that the symptoms may be caused by other illnesses. The health care provider will diagnose the condition based on your symptoms, medical history, and the results of the physical exam and medical tests.

The appendix may be removed even when it is not infected to prevent future problems.

Risks

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

• Reactions to medications
• Problems breathing
• Risks for any surgery include the following:
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Additional risks with an appendectomy with ruptured appendix include the following:
• Longer hospital stays
• Side effects from medications
• Expectations after surgery

Patients tend to recover quickly after a simple appendectomy. Most patients leave the hospital in 1 - 3 days after the operation. Normal activities can be resumed within 1 - 3 weeks after leaving the hospital.

Recovery is slower and more complicated if the appendix has ruptured or an abscess has formed.

Living without an appendix causes no known health problems

Appendectomy (Removal of the Appendix)



Appendectomy (ap-pen-DECK-toe-me) is the surgical removal of the appendix. This article will explain to you:
Why you may need to have an appendectomy
The ways in which an appendix is removed
What to expect before and after the operation

Remember, no two people undergoing an appendectomy are alike. The reasons for and the outcome of any surgical procedure depend on your age, the severity of your problem, and your general health. This brochure is not intended to take the place of your surgeon's professional opinion. Rather, it is intended to help you begin to understand the basics of this surgical procedure. Read this information carefully. If you have questions after reading this material, discuss them openly and honestly with your surgeon.

What Is the Appendix?

The appendix is a 3 to 6 inch long tubelike structure that projects from the junction of the small and large intestines. No one knows what, if any, function the appendix has. However, once the appendix becomes infected or inflamed, it must be removed. The appendix may vary in its orientation to the small intestine and the cecum (the expandable pouch in which the large intestine begins and into which the ileum opens from one side). Such variation can account for confusing and atypical symptoms that can make diagnosis difficult.

What Is Appendicitis?

Obstruction of the appendix by fecal matter or some other cause can lead to an inflammation of the appendix called appendicitis. Appendicitis usually develops rapidly with little warning over a period of six to 12 hours. The usual symptom is abdominal pain, which begins as vague discomfort around the navel. Over the next several hours, the pain becomes much more severe and is localized to the lower right side of the abdomen. The abdomen may become rigid and very sensitive to pressure. Pain is typically accompanied by nausea, vomiting and a slight fever.

Who Gets Appendicitis?

Approximately two-thirds of all people who experience appendicitis are women, and about two-thirds of all people who get appendicitis are between the ages of 15 and 44. However, this condition can affect any person, at any age.

Diagnosing Appendicitis

An appendectomy is almost always performed as emergency surgery. Therefore, a diagnosis of appendicitis is usually made swiftly and is based primarily on an analysis of your symptoms and a physical examination. If there is a question regarding the nature of your symptoms — or if the symptoms do not seem urgent — blood tests and an abdominal X-ray may be done. Preparations include the usual admission tests, including: complete blood count, blood clotting tests, urinalysis and chest X-ray.

Preparing for Surgery

Because you are arriving at the hospital as an emergency admission, you will be asked how long it has been since you last consumed food. The reason for this question is that a general anesthetic, which is usually given to the patient before an appendectomy is per-formed, can only be given on an empty stomach.

You will receive a preoperative sedative by injection to make you sleepy. Also, an intravenous (IV) needle will be inserted into the back of your hand or forearm for connection to an IV line in the operating room through which the general anesthetic will be administered. The entire procedure usually takes about one hour.

The Surgical Procedure

Today, a surgeon can perform an appendectomy in one of two ways: through what is called an open operation or through the laparoscopic technique.

The Open Technique

In this operation, the surgeon makes a short incision through the skin and underlying fat. The muscles of the wall are then separated, revealing the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum is cut to reveal the cecum, the section of the large intestine to which the appendix is attached. After the small intestine has been moved aside, the appendix is carefully freed from the surrounding structures. Blood vessels around the site are tied off.

At this point, the appendix is tied off and severed. The appendix is then sent to the pathology laboratory for examination. The stump of the appendix is positioned into the cecum. Finally, the peritoneum, the muscle wall, and the skin incision are closed. Closure of the skin is done either with sutures or tiny staples.

The Laparoscopic Technique

A laparoscope is used to view the inside of the abdominal cavity while the surgeon removes the appendix. A laparoscope is a long metal tube with a lens on which a TV camera is attached. The surgeon can then perform the appendectomy directly from the TV monitor. Surgical instruments called cannulas are inserted into other small openings and used to remove the appendix.

Laparoscopic appendectomy is a safe alternative to the open technique. Presently, there seems to be no difference between the two techniques in terms of hospital costs, length of the patient's hospital stay, or infection rate. It may, however, let patients resume normal activity more quickly than the open technique permits. This method is not for every patient, and it is up to you and your surgeon to decide whether it is right for you.

Regardless of the type of procedure you undergo, minimal postoperative discomfort is likely to occur after an appendectomy. You will be given oral medication for any discomfort you may experience.

Recovery from the Operation

You will remain in the recovery room for about one hour after your appendectomy. If you had an open appendectomy, you will be up and walking within six hours. Expect to be discharged from the hospital — barring complications — in one to two days.

If you have a laparoscopy, you will most likely be discharged on the day of your operation.

Your doctor may instruct you to refrain from jogging and lifting heavy objects for one to several weeks, depending on the type and complexity of your operation.

What About Complications?

Complications are rare following an appendectomy. However, if the appendix ruptures before surgery, peritonitis, a potentially life-threatening infection of the abdominal cavity, may occur. Treatment then will include intravenous administration of antibiotics to control the infection. Some patients who are suspected to have appendicitis, even though they have minimal symptoms and normal laboratory test results, may un-dergo an appendectomy to ensure that rupture of the appendix and other complications are avoided.

Will I Have a Scar?

You will have a short scar at the location of the incision. Typically, the scar is placed in a natural fold just above the groin and is very inconspicuous.

Surgery by Surgeons

A fully trained surgeon is a physician who, after medical school, has gone through years of training in an accredited residency program to learn the specialized skills of a surgeon. One good sign of a surgeon's competence is certification by a national surgical board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. All board-certified surgeons have satisfactorily completed an approved residency training program and have passed a rigorous specialty examination. The letters F.A.C.S. (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon's name are a further indication of a surgeon's qualifications. Surgeons who become Fellows of the College have passed a comprehensive evaluation of their surgical training and skills; they also have demonstrated their commitment to high standards of ethical conduct. This evaluation is conducted according to national standards that were established to ensure that patients receive the best possible surgical care.

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