If your appendix is infected and is removed through laparoscopic appendectomy, the following is the most important information about this procedure.
Laparoscopy appendectomy is a medical procedure through which the appendix connected to the colon is removed if it becomes inflamed. The surgeon performs this procedure by making small incisions in the abdomen.
How is laparoscopic appendectomy performed?
Laparoscopic appendectomy is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes about one hour.
Here is a summary of what is done during a laparoscopic appendectomy as follows:
The doctor makes small incisions to the laparoscope tube. The doctor may need to increase the number of incisions depending on the tools used during the operation.
Carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate the abdomen so that the specialist doctor can easily see the abdominal organs, especially the appendix.
The doctor places a laparoscope through the incisions in your abdomen until your inflamed appendix is found.
The appendix is tied with a series of stitches, then completely removed, and then pulled through incisions in the abdomen.
The doctor removes the laparoscope and other tools used after completing the operation, and then removes carbon dioxide. The doctor may need to place tubes to drain excess fluids from the abdomen through incisions, if any.
The abdominal incisions are then closed with stitches.
How to prepare before performing a laparoscopic appendectomy?
Here is what you should do to prepare before having a laparoscopic appendix operation:
Tell the doctor in charge of performing the procedure about the medications, nutritional supplements, and herbs that you are taking, as he may ask you to stop them before the operation.
Stop taking any type of anticoagulant medication a week before the procedure.
Talk to your doctor about any medical conditions you suffer from or if you are pregnant for women, and tell him about any bleeding disorders, if any.
Refrain from eating or drinking after midnight on the night before the appendix operation.
Avoid smoking or reduce it in the period preceding the operation, as this will improve your ability to recover.
Take the medications prescribed by the specialist doctor before the operation with a little water.
Recovery after laparoscopic appendectomy
The patient can leave the hospital on the same day of the operation or the next day, and in general, daily activities can be resumed after about 1 - 3 weeks.
Here are a set of tips that may help you during the recovery period after laparoscopic appendicitis surgery:
Follow a special diet that the specialist doctor may tell you about.
Avoid strenuous and tiring activities.
Avoid driving a car for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
Shower at any time when going home after the procedure.
Remove the bandages from the surgical incisions the next morning, and remove any adhesive tapes approximately 2-3 days after the operation.
Return to work approximately 3 days after the operation after consulting the doctor supervising your case.
What are the advantages of laparoscopic appendectomy?
The most common advantages of laparoscopic appendectomy include:
Feeling less pain after the operation.
Less time spent in the hospital.
Recover faster and thus return to normal activity.
The intestine returns to its normal movement in a shorter time.
Scars resulting from surgical incisions appear smaller.
Are there complications after laparoscopic appendectomy?
Laparoscopic appendectomy is a relatively safe surgical procedure, but it may result in a number of complications, the most notable of which are as follows:
Some complications resulting from anesthesia appear, such as: headache and nausea.
The occurrence of blood clots.
Bleeding.
Inflammation of the surgical fissures.
Abdominal abscess.
Fistula formation.
Feeling bloated in the abdomen accompanied by some pain.
Inflammation of the stomach lining, known as peritonitis.
Recurrence of infection in the appendix stump remaining after the operation.
