Appendectomy Surgery
Appendicitis is a fairly common ailment, we all know someone who has had appendectomy surgery. The appendix is a tube like structure that measures between 3 to 6 inches in length, and it is located at fork in the road where the small and large intestines meet. If your appendix does become infected or inflamed, it has to be removed, that is the only option.
If you are afflicted with appendicitis it will hit you very quickly, it is a rapid illness, and is caused by an obstruction and the usual object that blocks the appendix is fecal (stool), that cause the appendix to become inflamed. The first sign of appendicitis is abdominal pain, which starts out as a stomach ache, but as it progresses, the pain becomes severe and moves to the lower right side of the abdomen. Your right side will be very sensitive to touch. The pain brings along a few of his friends, nausea, vomiting and a fever.
Appendectomy surgery more often than not is an emergency surgery. Because of that reason, diagnosis will be made quickly based on your symptoms and a physical examination. If those results are inconclusive, blood test and abdominal X-ray will be done. Once appendicitis is confirmed, you will be prepared for surgery.
The first question that your surgeon will ask is when the last time that you ate was; because you will need to have general anesthesia and it can only be given on any empty stomach. Your nurse will start an IV and give you a sedative to make you sleepy. The entire procedure usually takes about an hour. There are two options for an appendectomy, an open operation or laparoscopically.
If you have the open technique, your surgeon will make a short incision through the skin and underlying fat, separating the wall of the muscles. Your surgeon will then be able to see the peritoneum which is the lining of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum will be cut to reveal the cecum which is the section of the large intestine that the appendix is attached. Your small intestine will be moved aside, the blood vessels that surround your appendix will be tied, and then your appendix will be freed from any surrounding structures.
Next, the appendix will be tied off and severed. The stump of the appendix will be carefully placed in the cecum. Finally, the peritoneum, the muscle wall, and the skin incision are closed with either sutures or tiny staples.
Your surgeon may choose to use a laparoscope to view the inside of the abdominal cavity while removing your appendix. A laparoscope is a long metal tube with a lens that has a TV camera attached to it. Your surgeon will be able to see everything on a TV monitor while he is removing the appendix with surgical instruments called cannulas that have been inserted into a small opening.
Regardless of the type of procedure you undergo for your appendectomy surgery, you will experience minimal postoperative discomfort. But if you do have any pain or discomfort you will be given oral medication to relieve the symptoms.
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