Appendectomy, or appendicectomy, is the surgical removal of the appendix, which is a small, long sac attached to the first part of the large intestine. Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix and untreated acute appendicitis may lead to rupture of the appendix.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
- Pain around the umbilicus, which moves and localizes to the right side of the abdomen (right lower quadrant abdominal pain). Pain and tenderness is noticed at Mcburney’s point, which is two-thirds the distance between the umbilicus (belly button) and uppermost tip of the hip bone (anterior superior iliac spine).
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Constipation
Indications for Appendectomy
Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency and though mild cases may be treated with antibiotics, appendectomy is the treatment of choice.
Types of Appendectomy
There are two surgical techniques for appendectomy.
- Open appendectomy
- Laparoscopic appendectomy
Both operations are performed under general anesthesia.
Open Appendectomy
A small incision, about two to three inches, is made in the skin over the appendix on the right side of the abdomen. The appendix is reached by cutting through the layers of the abdomen (skin, connective tissue and muscle) and then removed.
Laparoscopic appendectomy
This is a minimally invasive surgical technique where three or four tiny cuts are made in the abdomen through which a laparoscope, with a miniature camera and surgical instruments, are inserted into the abdominal cavity to remove the appendix.
Advantages of Laparoscopic Appendectomy
Laparoscopic appendectomy is often the preferred choice for the following reasons
- Quick healing time with smaller scar.
- Less post-operative pain and complications.
- Shorter hospital stay, since patients are discharged within 24 to 36 hours as compared to 2 to 5 days in the open method.
Contradictions for Laparoscopic Appendectomy
A laparascopic appendectomy may not be considered in the following pre-existing conditions due to the high risk of complications.
- Heart disease
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Obesity
- Previous abdominal surgery
Great article, I know 2 or 3 people that have had their appendix removed but I didn’t know there where different types of Appendectomy. It seems that Laparoscopic Appendectomy is the best choice as a less invasive surgery compared with Open Appendectomy.