Diagnosis
You may not think about appendicitis immediately as the symptoms like constipation or diarrhea and vomiting can be caused by a number of reasons. Even heartburn may be one of the symptoms. If the medication for heartburn or gas does not help and you experience pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, it is time to seek medical help. Diagnosing appendicitis can be sensitive as the symptoms are similar to intestinal infection, Crohn’s disease, gallbladder problem or urinary tract infection. Still, there is some clinical diagnosis that includes:
- Urinary test
- Blood test
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- Chest X-ray, in case of a child, to check pneumonia
Procedure
Sometimes antibiotics can treat infection in the appendix, but due to the busy schedule, patients usually prefer quick surgical treatment. Appendicitis is a medical emergency situation which must be treated within a few hours before it gets burst. There are two surgical approaches open and laparoscopic appendectomies.
In open appendectomy, the surgeon removes the appendix by making a large incision in the abdomen. The appendix is removed and the wound is cleaned and closed with stitches. This is the most preferred procedure for those who have already gone through abdominal surgery or those who have perforated appendix.
In laparoscopic appendectomy, the surgeon makes 2-3 small incisions in the abdomen. During the procedure, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide so that the surgeon can clearly see inside. A thin tube-like instrument with a camera attached on top of it so that the surgeon gets a view inside the abdomen. Other surgical instruments are inserted through the rest of the incisions. The appendix is removed and the incisions are closed using surgical glue.
For adults and obese people, laparoscopic appendicitis surgery is the best treatment. There are several advantages of laparoscopic surgery over open surgery:
- Small incisions and minimum scarring
- Short surgery that takes 30-40 minutes
- Less postoperative pain
- Short hospital stay
- Quick return to normal activities
- Better cosmetic results
- Fewer complications