How long appendectomy surgery take

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. In most cases an appendectomy is an emergency surgery and will require a hospital stay. You will have either an open appendectomy or a laparoscopic appendectomy.

An appendectomy is done while you are given medicines to put you into a deep sleep under general anesthesia. You will be asked to remove any jewelry or other objects that might get in the way during surgery.

A tube will be put down your throat to help you breathe. The anesthesiologist will check your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery. If your appendix has burst or ruptured, your abdomen will be washed out with salt water saline. The lining of your abdomen and your abdominal muscles will be closed with stitches.

A small tube may be put in the incision to drain out fluids. A tiny incision will be made for the tube laparoscope. More cuts may be made so that other tools can be used during surgery. Carbon dioxide gas will be used to swell up your abdomen so that your appendix and other organs can be easily seen. An appendectomy is a common surgical procedure that doctors can usually perform using keyhole surgery, also called laparoscopic surgery.

This procedure is less invasive than open surgery. Surgeons usually perform an appendectomy under general anesthesia. As a result, the person will be completely asleep and unaware that the surgery is taking place. Sometimes, if the surgeon cannot see the appendix well enough or the individual has other health-related issues, it is not possible to complete the surgery using a laparoscope.

In these cases, it will be necessary for the surgeon to perform an open appendectomy, which involves making a larger incision. An appendectomy is often an emergency procedure, so there is usually little time to prepare for the surgery. After surgery, recovery time varies depending on the severity of the infection and whether or not the appendix ruptured.

According to the American College of Surgeons , if the appendix did not rupture, a person may usually go home after 1 or 2 days in the hospital. A person will need to stay for longer at the hospital if their appendix has ruptured.

Here, they will receive powerful antibiotics and remain under observation for any signs of complications. People should avoid driving, drinking alcohol, and operating machinery for up to 2 days after surgery. They should also refrain from making important decisions because the anesthetic can make it difficult to think clearly for a couple of days.

A doctor will talk to the individual about activity restrictions and expected recovery time. Activity restrictions will typically apply for up to 14 days after the appendectomy. Most children can return to school within 1 week of the surgery if their appendix did not rupture and within 2 weeks if it did. As they awake from surgery, a person will feel groggy and may have trouble thinking clearly.

They should notify a healthcare professional if they feel nauseated or in pain. After some time in the recovery unit, the person will be able to go home or to a hospital room. At this time, they can start drinking small sips of clear liquids. They should not advance their diet to solid foods until they are sure that their body can tolerate clear liquids.

Before a person goes home, their doctor will usually give them some tips for improving their recovery and reducing the risk of infection.

Tips for aiding recovery after an appendectomy include :. A person should notify their doctor if they experience any of the following during their recovery. These symptoms could indicate complications:. All surgical procedures carry some risks. A surgeon should clearly explain the risks of an appendectomy with the individual before performing the procedure.

This operation is usually carried out on an emergency basis to treat appendicitis inflamed appendix. This may occur as a result of an obstruction in part of the appendix. Another name for this operation is an appendicectomy. Some common symptoms of appendicitis are nausea, vomiting, constipation and pain. The pain is initially felt in the centre of the abdomen and later moves to become a sharper pain in the right lower abdomen.

The area is tender to the touch. Occasionally, some of these symptoms may be absent and it becomes necessary to investigate the abdominal cavity to make a diagnosis. Appendicitis occurs when the appendix is blocked and becomes infected due to an invasion of intestinal bacteria. There is no single cause, but appendicitis may be due to:. If appendicitis is left untreated, it may cause the appendix to rupture burst. If the appendix ruptures, the infected contents flow into the abdominal cavity.

This can cause a much more serious medical emergency known as peritonitis, which is inflammation of the membranes lining the abdominal wall and organs. Without prompt treatment, peritonitis can be life threatening. Surgery is the preferred treatment for appendicitis. Delaying the operation in the hope that the appendix will 'settle down' only increases the risk of suffering a ruptured appendix.

Once in hospital, your temperature, pulse, breathing pattern and blood pressure will be charted. If the surgeon suspects your appendix shows signs that it may rupture, you will be taken to the operating theatre as soon as possible. Where the diagnosis is less clear, further examination using methods such as CT scans or ultrasound and blood tests may be needed before a decision to operate can be made. The type of operation you have will depend on how severe your appendicitis is.

The surgeon will discuss your options with you. If there is anything you want to know or are not clear about, it is important to ask your doctor or surgeon to explain it in terms you can understand. A laparoscopic appendectomy may need to become open surgery if the appendix has ruptured. Once the appendix is accessed by either open or laparoscopic surgery, the blood vessels that supply it are clamped and the appendix is cut and removed.

In laparoscopic appendectomy, the appendix is removed through one of the small 'keyhole' incisions. If your appendix ruptures and you develop peritonitis, you will have antibiotics prescribed.

Your surgeon will need to drain out the infected material and disinfect your abdominal cavity. A nasogastric tube feeding tube through the nose may need to be inserted into your stomach for a day or two, and intravenous fluids will be administered into a vein in your arm. You can expect a longer hospital stay. All surgery carries some degree of risk. One of the most common complications following appendectomy is infection.