What's the treatment for appendicitis?
The treatment of appendicitis is an immediate appendectomy. This may be done by opening the abdomen in the standard open appendectomy technique, or through laparoscopy. In laparoscopy, a smaller incision is made through the navel. Both methods can successfully accomplish the removal of the appendix. It is not certain that laparoscopy holds any advantage
over open appendectomy. When the appendix has ruptured, patients undergoing a laparoscopic appendectomy may have to be switched to the open appendectomy procedure for the successful management of the rupture. If a ruptured appendix is left untreated, the condition is fatal.
It is crucial to remove an infected appendix before it ruptures. If an infected appendix ruptures, the infection may move to the abdomen, causing peritonitis (an inflammation of the lining of the abdomen). The rupture may also cause an abscess (infected area) near the place where the appendix ruptured. If the appendix does rupture, the doctor will leave a drainage tube in the abdomen for a few days after surgery to remove fluid.
Patients usually are given a dose of antibiotic intravenously (into a vein) during surgery and the antibiotic is continued until the day after surgery. If the appendix ruptured, the patient will need to take antibiotics for a week or more. To allow the digestive tract to rest after surgery, patients will not be given anything to eat or drink for the first 24 hours after an appendectomy. After that, they gradually will be given small amounts of water, then clear liquids, and then some solid foods, until finally they are able to handle a regular diet. |
