Appendectomy Surgery
and Procedure in India
What is an Appendectomy?
Appendectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove inflamed appendix causing Appendicitis which is a medical emergency, and prompt treatment is required to avoid fatal complications.
The appendix is a small tube-like protrusion the right side of the lower abdomen and is present in every individual. It is considered a vestigial organ, and no consequences have been observed if it is removed. But when it ruptures, it can cause severe pain in the lower side of the abdomen. Then emergency surgery may be required to remove the damaged appendix before further complications happens to the body.
Renowned Laparoscopic Appendectomy Surgeons
at Wockhardt Hospitals
Signs & Symptoms Indicating Need for Appendectomy
Appendicitis can be caused by inflammation of the appendix or if the appendix has ruptured. There are many signs of Appendicitis, including severe pain in the lower part of the right side of the abdomen, so much so that regular activities are disrupted. There are other signs and symptoms associated with inflammation or bursting of the appendix which must not be ignored, or if it advances, it may cause serious consequences.
Some of the most common signs and symptoms of inflammation or bursting of the appendix include the following:
- Abdominal pain spreading from the lower right side of the abdomen
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Constipation or Diarrhea
- Loss of Appetite
If Appendicitis is left untreated, it might cause the appendix to rupture, which may release toxins into the abdominal cavity leading to fatal infections and complications. It requires an emergency surgery where the appendix must be removed.
Causes of Appendectomy
The Appendectomy procedure is performed to treat Appendicitis in patients with an inflamed or burst appendix. The appendix is small, when it gets inflamed, it doesn’t take much time for it to burst. The burst appendix may then cause severe infections and swelling in the abdomen, which may lead to ‘Peritonitis’ or inflammation of the abdominal lining.
If left untreated for a long time, the infection may spread through the bloodstream and reach other body parts leading to Sepsis, which is a life-threatening reaction to the spreading infection. Thus, since the first signs of Appendicitis, time is of the essence, and prompt diagnosis and treatment may help avoid serious complications and fatality. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately seek medical attention or visit Wockhardt Hospitals, in case you experience symptoms of Appendicitis.
Types of Appendectomy
At Wockhardt Hospitals, we generally perform Appendectomy procedures in two ways, depending upon the severity of this medical condition along with the medical history of the patient.
- Open Appendectomy: A large incision may be made in the lower right side of the abdomen to help surgeons gain access to the appendix. The surgeon will then remove the appendix and close the incision.
- Laparoscopic Appendectomy: A 2-4 small incisions may be made in the abdomen through which a laparoscope with a lighted video camera may be inserted, which will guide the surgeons to perform the surgery by inserting other surgical instruments through the other small incisions
How is Appendicitis Diagnosed, Leading to the Recommendation of Appendectomy?
When you experience the symptoms of Appendicitis, you should not delay visiting the top experienced doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals. The doctor may start the diagnosis by taking notes of your medical history along with the signs and symptoms that you may be experiencing and may perform additional confirmatory medical tests.
The tests that may help diagnose Appendicitis include:
- Physical Examination: The doctor may put pressure on the painful area to identify if the pain may be due to inflammation of the appendix.
- Blood Test: An increase in the white blood cell count may indicate an infection.
- Urine Test: A urine test may be performed to rule out chances of kidney stones or urinary tract infections that may also be causing such pain.
- Imaging Tests: Imaging tests may help identify and diagnose inflammation of the appendix. Imaging tests may include:
- Abdominal X-ray
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Computed Tomography (CT)
How is Appendectomy Surgery Performed?
Appendectomy surgery is performed to remove the inflamed appendix. But before the surgery is performed, the doctor may try to treat the infection through a dose of antibiotics. Sometimes it may work; if it doesn’t, then surgery has to be performed.
An appendectomy procedure may be performed as open or laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery. Open Appendectomy may be performed when the appendix has ruptured and has started spreading the infection to the other body parts. It may also be considered for people who have undergone previous abdomen surgery.
Laparoscopic Appendectomy may be opted for in case the patient is older, has obesity, or pregnant. Laparoscopic Appendectomy may also be chosen if Appendicitis has not caused any complications yet or the patient may be prone to risks following the open Appendectomy surgery procedure.
The type of surgery to be performed may be decided upon by the doctor after a detailed discussion with the patient based on the diagnostic evaluation of the symptoms and tests performed.
Before Procedure?
After Appendicitis has been diagnosed, the doctor may opt for antibiotic therapy if the infection is not severe or Appendicitis is at an early stage. The appendectomy procedure is considered if the patient doesn’t respond to antibiotic therapy or may have advanced stages of Appendicitis. Most Appendectomy surgeries are scheduled within 24 hours of diagnosis.
Once surgical treatment has been decided upon, the doctor may recommend not eating or drinking anything for at least 8 hours before the surgery and prescribe certain antibiotics before the surgery.
Once the patient has been brought into the operating room, they may be put on intravenous administration of essential antibiotics and fluids for the duration of the surgery. Whichever mode of treatment for Appendicitis has been deemed fit by the doctor, it is likely that the patient may be put under general anesthesia. The patient may also be put on muscle relaxant medication to prevent muscle spasms. Sometimes, spinal anesthesia may also be used in place of general anesthesia to numb the patient from the waist down.
During Procedure?
Overall, the Appendectomy procedure may take around 1 hour to complete. During the surgery, the patient may be put under anesthesia and muscle relaxant, and a thin tube may be placed through the mouth into the throat to maintain a clear airway, and the breathing can be monitored.
After Procedure?
After the surgery, the patient may be closely monitored for a few hours to ensure that complications or infections don’t arise and to check respiratory and heart rates. The amount of time spent in the hospital may depend upon the overall health of the patient, how the body reacts after the surgery, and whether a Laparoscopic or Open Appendectomy was performed.
If a Laparoscopic Appendectomy was performed and the surgery was uncomplicated, the patient may be discharged the same day of the surgery. If Open Appendectomy was performed, a hospital stay for a few days may be required.
After Treatment, How to Recover Fast?
Recovery after the Appendectomy procedure may depend upon what kind of procedure was performed and how complicated it was. How the body reacts to surgery may also be a factor in recovery. Antibiotics may need to be administered for a few days, even after the surgery. Any pain or discomfort should improve within a few days. Dietary changes may need to be changed, opting for bland and clear foods for a few days until recovery. Before discharge from the hospital, the doctor may recommend certain dos and don’ts to recover at home. Usually, recovery from Appendectomy may be possible in a few weeks following the surgery if proper instructions given by the concerned doctor are followed.
Risk Factors for Appendectomy
Appendectomy surgery procedure is a very common procedure, especially in India, with a good success rate. It is generally a safe Appendectomy treatment; however, as it is with any kind of surgery, some risks and complications may be there after the surgery. These risk factors and complications include:
- Internal bleeding
- Injury to nearby organs, such as the bladder or intestines
- Wound infection
- Blood clots
- Blocked bowels
- Hernia
Receive the highly precise appendectomy procedure from the world-class doctors and surgeons at Wockhardt Hospitals. Our surgeons are backed by highly advanced medical equipment & tools, cutting-edge technology, and state-of-the-art infrastructure, helping them provide the treatment with minimal risks and the highest success rates.
