Appendicitis

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What is Appendicitis ?

chronic appendicitis acute appendicitis

All that you need to know about appendicitis

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Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.

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    What is appendicitis?

    Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.

    Appendicitis causes pain in your lower right abdomen. However, in most people, pain begins around the navel and then moves. As inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain typically increases and eventually becomes severe.

    Although anyone can develop appendicitis, most often it occurs in people between the ages of 10 and 30. Standard treatment is surgical removal of the appendix.


    How does it form?

    A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of appendicitis. The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed, swollen and filled with pus. If not treated promptly, the appendix can rupture.


    Types of appendicitis

    Mainly there are two types of appendicitis

    1. Acute appendicitis
    2. Chronic appendicitis


    Causes of appendicitis

    • - Abdominal injury or trauma.
    • - Blockage at the opening where the appendix connects to the intestines.
    • - Digestive tract infection.
    • - Inflammatory bowel disease.
    • - Growths inside the appendix.

    Symptoms of appendicitis

    • - Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen.
    • - Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right abdomen.
    • - Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements.
    • - Nausea and vomiting.
    • - Loss of appetite.

    Diagnosis

    Tests

      • - Physical exam to assess your pain. Your doctor may apply gentle pressure on the painful area. When the pressure is suddenly released, appendicitis pain will often feel worse, signaling that the adjacent peritoneum is inflamed.
      • Your doctor may also look for abdominal rigidity and a tendency for you to stiffen your abdominal muscles in response to pressure over the inflamed appendix (guarding).
      • Your doctor may use a lubricated, gloved finger to examine your lower rectum (digital rectal exam). Women of childbearing age may be given a pelvic exam to check for possible gynecological problems that could be causing the pain.
      • Blood test. This allows your doctor to check for a high white blood cell count, which may indicate an infection.
        Urine test. Your doctor may want you to have a urinalysis to make sure that a urinary tract infection or a kidney stone isn't causing your pain.
      • Imaging tests. Your doctor may also recommend an abdominal X-ray, an abdominal ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help confirm appendicitis or find other causes for your pain.

    Self-diagnosis

    Pain is usually the first symptom. The pain often starts near the belly button and moves toward the lower right side. Pain occurs rapidly and gets worse in a matter of hours. Pain is worse when you take deep breaths, cough, sneeze, or move.


    Diagnosis by doctor

    To help diagnose appendicitis, your doctor will likely take a history of your signs and symptoms and examine your abdomen. Tests and procedures used to diagnose appendicitis include: Physical exam to assess your pain. Your doctor may apply gentle pressure on the painful area.


    Severity

    A panel of acute care surgery experts reviewed the literature and developed a DSS for acute appendicitis as follows:

    - Grade 1: inflamed

    - Grade 2: gangrenous

    - Grade 3: perforated with localized free fluid

    - Grade 4: perforated with a regional abscess and

    - Grade 5:  perforated with diffuse peritonitis.


    Risks and complications

    - A ruptured appendix. A rupture spreads infection throughout your abdomen (peritonitis). Possibly life-threatening, this condition requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean your abdominal cavity.

    A pocket of pus that forms in the abdomen. If your appendix bursts, you may develop a pocket of infection (abscess). In most cases, a surgeon drains the abscess by placing a tube through your abdominal wall into the abscess. The tube is left in place for about two weeks, and you're given antibiotics to clear the infection.


    During the surgery

    - Reaction of anaesthesia: Before performing an appendix removal surgery, a person might be put under the influence of anaesthesia in order to eliminate the pain which would likely expose them to complications like difficulty in breathing during the surgery, depending upon how their body reacts to it.

    Bleeding: If a person is suffering from severe appendicitis, it is possible that the appendix might lead to massive rectal bleeding which can be caused by severe gastrointestinal hemorrhage from an appendicle stump. However, such cases are considered to be extremely rare.

    Inflammation caused by bursting of appendix: During an appendectomy, the appendix may burst, causing inflammation followed by redness or infection around the abdominal area.

    Bowel Obstruction: Following an abdominal surgery, there might be subsequent bowel obstruction due to the formation of adhesions around the appendix.

    Infection of the wound: As cuts or incisions are made in the skin while performing a surgery, it might lead to an infection around the area of the wound, causing symptoms like redness, swelling or bleeding, followed by pain and fever.

    -Injury to the nearby organs: Although least likely, a surgical procedure might cause damage to the nearby organs and tissues which can also lead to the development of a scar tissue and can possibly cause bowel obstruction.


    If left untreated

    If appendicitis is not treated, the appendix can burst and cause potentially life-threatening infections.


    Prevention

    There's no proven way to prevent appendicitis. Eating a high-fiber diet with lots of whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables may help, although experts can't explain why.

Treatment option and costs

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Non-surgical

Patients admitted to Emergency Department with Lower Abdominal and suspicion of Acute Appendicitis not needing immediate surgery, are requested by informed consent to undergo observation and non-operative treatment with antibiotic therapy (Amoxicillin and Clavulanic Acid).


Surgical

Keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) is usually the preferred method of removing the appendix because the recovery tends to be quicker than with open surgery. The operation involves making 3 or 4 small cuts (incisions) in your tummy (abdomen).


Types of surgeries

- Open appendectomy: This is one of the surgical procedures carried out in order to remove an appendix where the surgeon makes a single, large cut/incision of about 5-10 centimeters in the lower-right abdominal area. After making the cut, the abdominal muscles will be separated, making an opening through the lower-right area of the abdomen and the appendix will be completely removed before closing the wound with stitches. In case there is a complication like bursting or rupture of the appendix the doctor will wash out there pus or infected bacteria from the abdominal cavity using saline or salt water. A small tube might be inserted through the incision to drain out fluids before closing the lining of your abdomen and the abdominal muscles with stitches. 


  • - Laparoscopic appendectomy: This is considered a much-advanced procedure compared to the conventional method of an appendix removal surgery. During this process, the surgeon makes two or three tiny incisions in your abdomen rather than a single large cut and inserts a laparoscope – a thin tube with a camera and light attached to it, which allows them to view the inside of your abdomen. Once the laparoscope is inserted, the surgeon inflated the abdomen with CO2 gas. This helps the doctor to have a distinctive view of the appendix and the other organs inside the abdomen. As soon as the appendix is located, the surgeon ties it off with stitches and removes it. After that, the incisions will be dressed clean and be closed using sutures or bandages. This method of appendectomy is becoming increasingly popular as it involves fewer complications and has a shorter postoperative recovery time.

- Surgery preparation

You'll need to avoid eating and drinking for at least eight hours before the appendectomy. It's also important to tell your doctor about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you're taking. Your doctor will tell you how they should be used before and after the procedure.


- What to except during the surgery

A cut or incision will be made in the lower right part of your belly. Your abdominal muscles will be separated and the abdominal area will be opened. Your appendix will be tied off with stitches and removed. If your appendix has burst or ruptured, your abdomen will be washed out with salt water (saline).

- After the surgery

Most people leave the hospital in 1 to 2 days after surgery.You can go back to your normal activities within 2 to 4 weeks after leaving the hospital. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you will likely recover quickly. Recovery is slower and more complicated if your appendix has broken open or an abscess has formed.


Cost of laparoscopic appendix removal surgery in India with Doktors

The cost of an appendix removal surgery in India with Doktors can range anywhere from ₹45,000 to ₹55,000. However, this cost is not to be considered as an absolute as it may vary from person to person depending on multiple factors like:

  • - Type and location of the hospital chosen to undergo the treatment
  • - Consultation fees of the doctor
  • - Amount to be paid for diagnostic tests and other lab tests
  • - Severity of the condition of appendicitis that requires treatment 

  • Before and after the surgery comparison
  • If the appendix is safely removed before rupturing or developing into a complicated stage, the results of a laparoscopic appendectomy wouldn’t take much time to show up. The post-operative complication will be minimal and the results of the treatment will be immediate. The treatment will certainly ease the painful and discomforting symptoms.


  • Recovery rate

  • Your recovery time depends on the type of surgery you had. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you will probably be able to return to work or a normal routine 1 to 3 weeks after surgery. If you had an open surgery, it may take 2 to 4 weeks. If your appendix ruptured, you may have a drain in your incision.


  • Long term outlook treatment of appendicitis

  • If chronic appendicitis is diagnosed, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or may advise draining the pus that has formed around the appendix due to the infection. The most common treatment, however, is to have the appendix removed altogether. This surgery is called an appendectomy.

The medical coordinator understand the patient's problem on your first meet and advice's the best treatment for your problem. And starts scheduling your OPD and helps to connect the doctor based on your problem

DOKTORS only perform the advance scheduled surgeries, it doesn't provide any kind of emergency surgeries or treatments.

DOKTORS is not any hospital owner, it collaborates with other hospitals to perform surgeries which are done by doctors/surgeons using the medical infrastructure of the affiliated hospitals.

DOKTORS always provide online consultations, patients can select a doctor based on their specialization from anywhere based on the available slots. Patients can talk to the doctor through online call or chat to share their health problem. The doctor identify the problem and suggest the tests and medications as they require.

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There is an option to get second medical check up by highly reputated doctors for all kinds of problems. The consulted doctor can check all the previous medications and reports and can guides the new treatment.

While in the case of surgery the caretaker should be mentioned to patient who takes care in every moment in the whole surgery.

What happens if you delay the treatment/surgery?

Delayed treatment may aggravate piles and may lead to complications. Surgery is advised in case of

Severe pain

Prolonged bleeding

Large haemorrhoids

Alteration in bowel movements

Alteration in bowel movements

Why Doctor Care ?

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We have the finest and some of the most qualified surgical specialists, each with 10+ years of experience, who will consult with you to determine and conduct the most appropriate surgical procedure for your condition.

Advanced Surgical Technologies

We have the finest and some of the most qualified surgical specialists, each with 10+ years of experience, who will consult with you to determine and conduct the most appropriate surgical procedure for your condition.

Personal Care Assistants

We have the finest and some of the most qualified surgical specialists, each with 10+ years of experience, who will consult with you to determine and conduct the most appropriate surgical procedure for your condition.

Financial aid and assistance

We have the finest and some of the most qualified surgical specialists, each with 10+ years of experience, who will consult with you to determine and conduct the most appropriate surgical procedure for your condition.

Postoperative Care

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FAQ



What is the difference between appendix and appendicitis?

The appendix is a narrow, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from the colon.Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.

What is stump appendicitis?

Stump appendicitis is a rare condition beside the other common post-operative complications of appendectomy which are wound infection, bleeding, and intestinal obstruction. Stump appendicitis is inflammation of remnant appendix tissue due to incomplete removal of the appendix

How much time do you have before your appendix bursts?

If not treated it can burst (rupture). This can happen as soon as 48 to 72 hours after you have symptoms. Because of this, appendicitis is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms, see a doctor right away to avoid more infection, which can be life-threatening.

How is appendicitis treated during pregnancy?

Appendicitis during pregnancy is a condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and infected. Its treatment consists of emergent surgery for the removal of the appendix.

How do you know if the pain is not caused by appendicitis?
Abdominal pain from appendicitis and gas can feel similar at first. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is to pay careful attention to any other symptoms. If you start having abdominal pain, especially in your lower right side, be on the lookout for fever, nausea, and loss of appetite
Can your appendix burst without you knowing about it?

There's no way of knowing when or if appendicitis will occur, so you can't prevent it. However, you can avoid a rupture if appendicitis is treated right away. The key is to be aware of the symptoms of appendicitis. If you develop them, seek medical attention immediately.

What is the fastest way to recover from appendix surgery?

Ø  Allow yourself to rest.

Ø  Follow your doctor's instructions.

Ø  Manage your pain.

Ø  Increase your activities gradually.

Ø  Know the signs of infection.

Ø  Ease back into regular life.

Can exercise make appendicitis worse?

Some patients may also become constipated or develop severe diarrhea. Can jumping around or exercising after eating give you appendicitis? The straight answer is: No!

Will removal of the appendix cause problems?

In humans, the appendix does not perform any important function and removing it does not cause any long-term problems.

When can I go back to work after an appendectomy?
Most people leave the hospital in 1 to 2 days after surgery. You can go back to your normal activities within 2 to 4 weeks after leaving the hospital. If you had laparoscopic surgery, you will likely recover quickly. Recovery is slower and more complicated if your appendix has broken open or an abscess has formed.
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