Appendix Surgery

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix which is a tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine. No one is absolutely certain what the function of the appendix is, however, we do know that we can live without it.

Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires prompt surgery. If left untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst, or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to a condition known as peritonitis which is a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity’s lining and can be fatal unless it is treated quickly with strong antibiotics

Sometimes a pus-filled abscess forms on the outside of the appendix and separates it from the from the rest of the abdomen, preventing infection from spreading. An abscessed appendix is a less urgent situation, but unfortunately, it can’t be identified without surgery. For this reason, all cases of appendicitis are treated as emergencies, requiring surgery.

Appendectomy appendicitis symptoms may include:

• Dull pain near the navel or the upper or lower abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen; this is usually the first sign, but it only occurs in half of appendicitis cases
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and/or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
• Abdominal swelling
• Temperature of 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit
• Constipation or diarrhea with gas
• Inability to pass gas
• Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back, or rectum
• Painful urination
• Vomiting that precedes the abdominal pain