How long appendix removal

This lets fluid drain from the surgery area while you are healing, so it does not build up and cause problems. Your doctor will take out the drain later. If the inflammation of your appendix is more complicated, a larger incision may be necessary to complete the surgery safely.

Your surgeon will make this decision during the operation. The results may vary depending upon the type of surgery and your general health. But the most common advantages of laparoscopic surgery are:. Ask your surgeon if a laparoscopic appendectomy is the best option for you. In certain situations, you might need surgery with one 1 larger incision. Some people cannot have laparoscopic appendix removal. You might have open surgery with one large incision if you are one of these people.

Some reasons for having or switching to open surgery are:. It is not a complication problem if your surgeon decides to switch to open surgery. They will switch if open surgery is the safest option for you. Your surgeon might not know this until after the laparoscopy starts. They will use their best judgment about the safest surgery for you. Complications of laparoscopic appendectomy do not happen often.

They can include bleeding, infection in the surgery area, hernias, blood clots, and heart problems. A hernia is a hole that allows a small amount of your gut intestine or other tissue to bulge through the muscles that cover it. You should also know that any surgery has the risk of hurting other body parts. This is not likely, but it is possible. Appendix surgery could hurt nearby areas such as the bladder, large intestine colon , or small intestine.

You might need another surgery if this happens. This may require further treatment. Most complications from appendectomy are rare, which means they almost never happen.

If you are concerned about any possible complications, ask your surgeon. You may go home the day you have your surgery, or you might stay in the hospital overnight. You need to be able to drink liquids before you go home.

If the appendix had already perforated burst , you may be in the hospital for a longer period of time. You will feel some pain after surgery. Pain at the incision sites and in your abdomen is common. You can also develop an abscess if your appendix ruptures. Both are life-threatening situations that require immediate surgery.

Although pain from appendicitis typically occurs in the lower right side of the abdomen, pregnant women may have pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. This is because the appendix is higher during pregnancy.

Go to the emergency room immediately if you believe you have appendicitis. An appendectomy needs to be performed right away to prevent complications. An appendectomy is a fairly simple and common procedure. However, there are some risks associated with the surgery, including:.

An appendectomy needs to be done immediately to prevent abscesses and peritonitis from developing. Your doctor will tell you how they should be used before and after the procedure. You should also arrange for a family member or friend to drive you home after the procedure. An appendectomy is often performed using general anesthesia, which can make you drowsy and unable to drive for several hours after surgery.

During the exam, your doctor will gently push against your abdomen to pinpoint the source of your abdominal pain. Your doctor may order blood tests and imaging tests if appendicitis is caught early.

However, these tests may not be performed if your doctor believes an emergency appendectomy is necessary. There are two types of appendectomy: open and laparoscopic. The type of surgery your doctor chooses depends on several factors, including the severity of your appendicitis and your medical history. During an open appendectomy, a surgeon makes one incision in the lower right side of your abdomen.

Your appendix is removed and the wound is closed with stiches. This procedure allows your doctor to clean the abdominal cavity if your appendix has burst. Your doctor may choose an open appendectomy if your appendix has ruptured and the infection has spread to other organs.

During a laparoscopic appendectomy, a surgeon accesses the appendix through a few small incisions in your abdomen. A small, narrow tube called a cannula will then be inserted. The cannula is used to inflate your abdomen with carbon dioxide gas. This gas allows the surgeon to see your appendix more clearly. Once the abdomen is inflated, an instrument called a laparoscope will be inserted through the incision.

The laparoscope is a long, thin tube with a high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera at the front. The camera will display the images on a screen, allowing the surgeon to see inside your abdomen and guide the instruments. When the appendix is found, it will be tied off with stiches and removed.

The small incisions are then cleaned, closed, and dressed. Laparoscopic surgery is usually the best option for older adults and people who are overweight. It has fewer risks than an open appendectomy procedure, and generally has a shorter recovery time. Laparoscopic appendectomy. This method is less invasive. Instead, from 1 to 3 tiny cuts are made. A long, thin tube called a laparoscope is put into one of the incisions. It has a tiny video camera and surgical tools.

The surgeon looks at a TV monitor to see inside your abdomen and guide the tools. The appendix is removed through one of the incisions. A laparoscopic appendectomy may cause less pain and scarring than an open appendectomy.

For either type of surgery, the scar is often hard to see once it has healed. Both types of surgery have low risk of complications. A laparoscopic appendectomy has a shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery time, and lower infection rates. Recently, some studies have suggested that intravenous antibiotics alone could cure appendicitis without the need for appendectomy. These results remain controversial and appendectomy remains the standard of care.

Appendicitis is a medical emergency. It is when your appendix becomes sore, swollen, and infected. If you have appendicitis, there is a serious risk your appendix may burst or rupture. This can happen as soon as 48 to 72 hours after you have symptoms. It can cause a severe, life-threatening infection called peritonitis in your belly. Infection and redness and swelling inflammation of the belly that can occur if the appendix bursts during surgery peritonitis.

You may have other risks that are unique to you. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before surgery. You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the surgery. Read the form carefully and ask questions if anything is not clear. Your provider will ask questions about your past health.

He or she will also give you a physical exam. This is to make sure you are in good health before you have surgery. You may also need blood tests and other diagnostic tests. You must not eat or drink anything for 8 hours before the surgery. This often means no food or drink after midnight.

Make sure your provider has a list of all medicines prescribed and over-the-counter and all herbs, vitamins, and supplements that you are taking. Are allergic to or sensitive to latex, medicines, tape, or anesthesia medicines local and general. Have a history of bleeding disorders or are taking any blood-thinning anticoagulant medicines, aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting. You may have to stop taking these medicines before surgery.