Advanced Appendix Laser Operation - Appendicitis Surgery

What happens if appendicitis is left untreated?

If appendicitis is left untreated, infected bacteria that are stored inside the appendix cause inflammation and cut off blood supply, leading to the development of a hole or tear in the dead wall. As pressure builds up due to the blockage, it results in the bursting of the appendix. This can cause the bacteria and pus to flow into the abdominal cavity that holds the liver, stomach, and intestines. This is considered a medical emergency as it can lead to severe and life-threatening complications.

What happens in Appendicitis Treatment?

Diagnosis 

If you are suffering from any of the signs and symptoms of an inflamed appendix or appendicitis and visit a doctor, the doctor will carry out a diagnosis in the following ways:

• The doctor will review your symptoms and go through your medical history to rule out the possibility of other health problems.
• You might be asked to pinpoint the area where you feel the pain. Based on that, the doctor might physically check for tenderness, possible percussions, and rebound pain. 
• Depending upon your conditions, the doctor might recommend you to go through a blood test and urinalysis, which will eliminate the possibility of other complications.

Based on the analysis made by the doctor and the readings of the above-mentioned medical evaluations, you might be required to go through imagery tests such as x-ray, CT-scan, MRI scans, and ultrasound.

Procedure 

• You will be put under the influence of general anesthesia, which will help in easing the pain and discomfort during the surgery.
• Small incisions will be made around your abdominal area, through which the doctor will remove your appendix.
• The surgeon will inflate the areas of your abdomen using harmless CO2 gas by inserting a cannula in order to have a distinctive view of the appendix. 
• Through one of the incisions, a medical device called a laparoscope (a thin lighted tube attached to a camera) will be inserted, which would allow the doctor to see your internal structures and guide the instruments. 
• Once your appendix has been spotted, the surgeon will use surgical instruments to separate it from the intestine and close the ends with staples.
• After your appendix is removed, the laparoscope and other surgical instruments will be removed.
• The incisions will then be closed with sutures, followed by skin glue or skin closure tapes.

The surgeon might switch to an open appendectomy in case your appendix cannot be removed laparoscopically, which might happen due to the following reasons:

• Extensive infection or abscess
• Perforated appendix
• Obesity
• Dense scar tissue from previous surgery
• Bleeding problems during the operation
• Difficulty in viewing the organs using a laparoscope

How to prepare for an appendectomy?

• Almost like every other surgical procedure, you will have to refrain from consuming anything for at least 8 hours before the surgery. An empty stomach would make it easier for the doctor to have a clear view inside your abdominal cavity, ensuring a safe and effective treatment.
• It is important to consult your doctor if you are going through any medications, and the doctor can accordingly assist you in how the medicines should be taken before and after the surgery.
• You will have to avoid taking certain drugs like aspirin, blood-thinners, vitamin E, and arthritis medicines prior to a week before the surgery.
• If you have a history of bleeding disorders or are allergic to anesthesia, it would be a wise decision to let your doctor know about it before going for surgery.
• Upon reaching the hospital, you might be required to go through certain medical evaluations like blood tests, chest x-rays, and other tests in order to eliminate any potential complications during the surgery.
• If you plan on taking a shower, you should make sure that you take it before going for the surgery, as doctors recommend keeping the surgical area dry after the operation, which helps to avoid infections and other complications in the wounded area after the surgery.

What to expect after an appendectomy?

After the appendix operation, you can expect slight pain, discomfort, and disorientation until the effects of anesthesia completely wear off. 

 Once the anesthesia wears off and your blood pressure, breathing, and pulse rate are stable, you will be moved to the recovery room. Depending upon your overall physical condition and the procedure of the treatment, you will be prepared for a discharge from the hospital.

You will be advised to keep the surgical area dry and clean for the next few days to avoid possible infections in the wound.

During the first few days after undergoing an appendectomy, you may feel moderate pain in the areas surrounding your abdomen, and the doctor will accordingly prescribe antibiotics to deal with the pain and prevent any further infections.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Patients and doctors prefer laparoscopic appendix removal surgery because it has the following advantages over open surgery- 

• Instead of 1 large incision, the laparoscopic technique involves making 1 to 3 keyhole-sized incisions that are comparatively smaller. Thus, the damage inflicted on the skin tissues becomes significantly less. 
• As the size of the incisions is small, there are fewer chances of bleeding or infection during and after the surgery. 
• Again due to the small size of the incision, the post-op pain is minimal. 
• The patient recovers quickly as the tiny incisions will heal faster than a large incision. 
• With laparoscopic appendectomy, the patient gets discharged from the hospital on the same day. 
• There will be fewer restrictions on physical activities after having a laparoscopic appendectomy. 

Other Options for Appendicitis Treatment

The only alternative to appendicitis treatment is antibiotic medications. However, this alternative only works in the case of chronic appendicitis when the condition recurs frequently. In chronic appendicitis, the condition doesn’t advance to a stage where the surgery will be needed. It can be managed by medications alone. 

Recovery & Results After Laparoscopic Appendectomy

The usual recovery time after a laparoscopic appendectomy takes about 1 to 3 weeks at most.  The patient will be able to return to work and resume daily activities within a week. Some instructions will be given by the doctor for faster recovery. If you follow all the instructions carefully, you will be able to fully recover in the given time frame. 

The results of an appendectomy are immediate as the patient will get relief from the symptoms right after the surgery. There are zero chances of recurrence of appendicitis as the organ itself is removed during the procedure. 

Case Study

On 24 Oct 2021, Mr. Prabhdeep Dhillon visited Pristyn Care after complaining of severe pain on the right side of the lower abdomen. After a thorough consultation, Dr. Varun Gupta found that there was swelling of the lymphatic tissue. There was no sign of rupture, but the appendix was perforated in a minute way, and there was a minimal build-up of fluid(pus) around the appendix. 

The doctor suggested going for a laparoscopic appendix removal surgery immediately. The surgery was successfully carried out. After monitoring all the vital signs, the patient was prepared for discharge within the next 24 hours. Mr. Prabhdeep has completely recovered from the treatment. The procedure was successful, and he experienced zero problems during the recovery period.