GENERAL INFORMATION
The appendix is a small appendage which hangs from the first part of the large bowel in the right part of your lower abdomen. It is about 12cm long and a little thicker than a pencil. If this tube becomes plugged and infected, appendicitis can develop. It occurs at all ages and in both sexes.
COMMON SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- There is usually pain in the abdomen.
- Loss of appetite, nausea and sometimes vomiting is present.
- The pain eventually becomes prominent on the right side of the lower abdomen.
- A fever may be present.
DIAGNOSIS
- A careful history and physical examination is the most important way to make a correct diagnosis.
- Your doctor may order an X-ray or ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen to see whether any other abnormalities are present.
- The diagnosis can never be made with 100 percent certainty.
- If it is a close call, it is safer to operate than to risk having an infected appendix rupture.
TREATMENT
- The treatment for appendicitis is an operation to remove the appendix.
- Your doctor will explain to you that he proposes to remove your appendix with a laparoscope or alternatively as an open procedure.
- Sometimes it is found at operation that your appendix cannot be removed safely with the laparoscope. In such an instance a regular incision and open operation is done.
OPERATION
- You will be asleep for the operation.
- Three or more small incisions will be made when it is proposed to remove your appendix with a laparoscope.
POST-OPERATIVE CARE
- You will be taken to a recovery room. When you are stable you will be taken to a regular hospital room.
- The pain will be controlled with medicine.
- Your doctor will decide when you may take fluid and food by mouth. This may be very soon after the operation.
- You should be able to go home in 1 – 3 days depending on how seriously your appendix was infected. On discharge arrangements will be made by your doctor for a follow up and removal of the stitches if necessary.
HOME CARE
- You may walk about, even climb stairs but don’t overdo things.
- You will usually be able to eat normally once you have been discharged.
- Your doctor would have discussed the management of your dressings with you.
- Your incisions may be uncomfortable for a few days.
- Your doctor will have discussed with you when you may drive a car and return to work.
COMPLICATIONS
- Complications do occasionally occur after a LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDICECTOMY. It is important for you to remember that even though a laparoscope is used, this is a major abdominal operation.
- As this is an intra-abdominal operation, intra-abdominal organs may be damaged. This happens very rarely.
- An infection of the skin wounds may occur.
- Occasionally an intra-abdominal abscess or even peritonitis can occur after an appendicectomy. Your doctor will decide whether this necessitates further surgery.
- An incisional hernia can develop at the site of the incisions. This occasionally occurs especially when there has been a wound infection.
- Systemic complications like venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are rare but possible after any operation or anaesthetic.