Appendicitis - how is it removed?

Appendicitis is a pathological condition of the body, which is accompanied by the development of an inflammatory process in the appendix (rectal epididymis). This is a very dangerous phenomenon, therefore, when the first symptoms appear, you should immediately seek medical help. With timely access to a doctor, serious consequences can be avoided. What is appendicitis, how is it removed and how is the recovery going - all this will be discussed in this article.

Where is the appendix

The appendage of the rectum, the appendix or appendix is ​​a tubular formation, the length of which is 4-8 cm. The inner cavity of the appendix is ​​filled with lymphatic fluid, and the appendix itself is responsible for performing the protective functions of the body. Inside the appendix there are beneficial microorganisms that contribute to the normalization of the intestinal microflora. Many, unfortunately, do not know exactly where the appendix is ​​located.

It is located in the lower right side of the abdomen.. If a person suffers from mirror disease, then the appendix, respectively, is located on the left side of the abdominal cavity.

On a note! Among all countries, it is only in the United States that it is customary to remove the appendix immediately after the birth of a child. Doctors say that this process stores a lot of food waste, which negatively affects the state of the whole organism. But, according to various studies, such operations negatively affect the child's immune system.

Inflammation causes

Despite the rapid development of modern medicine, doctors cannot yet establish the exact cause of appendicitis. Only two causal factors are known that contribute to the development of the disease:

• intestinal infection with pathogenic microorganisms;
• obstruction of the lumen of the appendix or blockage. In this case, the communication between the lumens of the intestine and the appendix disappears.

The following factors can lead to blockage of the lumen:

• the accumulation of feces in the lumen of the appendix. In this case, the stool hardens, as a result of which an infection may occur;
• excessive consumption of various seeds from fruits or seeds. Once the seeds or seeds in large quantities enter the intestinal cavity, they can lead to blockage;
• the presence of foreign bodies (most often small toy parts). As a rule, the presence of foreign objects acts as the cause of the development of appendicitis in young children who constantly pull everything into their mouths.

The danger of the disease is that without the provision of timely medical care, the patient can die. Therefore, it is extremely important to be able to recognize the first signs of appendicitis in order to avoid serious complications.

Typical symptoms

Appendicitis differs from other diseases by its gradual development: during the first few hours, the appendix swells and gradually fills with a purulent mass. Without the assistance of a surgeon, the process can rupture, but this usually happens after 2-3 days. After a rupture, pus is poured into the patient's abdominal cavity, which leads to the development of peritonitis. In this case, the patient's condition is extremely serious.

The most common symptom of an inflammation of the appendix is ​​pain in the right side of the abdomen, which can gradually change location, moving up or down. In rare cases, painful sensations can be given to the anus or back.

Related symptoms to watch out for:

• increased body temperature;
• bowel problems (diarrhea, constipation);
• attacks of nausea and vomiting;
• constant tension of the patient's abdominal muscles;
• even the slightest touch on the abdomen leads to severe pain. When the legs are drawn into the stomach, they may loosen a little.

Elderly patients and children require special attention, since neither one nor the other will be able to clearly describe the nature of the symptoms. Loss of appetite in a child, inactivity and constant tearfulness may indicate the development of appendicitis. In older people, there is a risk of late diagnosis of the disease due to the fact that their pain is not so pronounced (more smoothed).

Diagnostic features

At the first suspicious symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor for a diagnostic examination, which does not last very long. The doctor should find out the reason for the appearance of painful sensations in the abdomen, since signs of appendicitis may overlap with signs of other abdominal pathologies. Diagnostics must be carried out in the clinic. To begin with, the doctor asks the patient about his state of health, listens to complaints. At this stage of diagnosis, you need to know more about the symptoms.

During a visual examination, it is necessary to take into account the position in which the patient lies or sits, as well as the gait. The fact is that the painful sensations that often arise with this pathology can correct the patient's posture. The body temperature can also be high. The condition of the abdominal wall must also be assessed and taken into account. When palpating the abdomen, the doctor should pay special attention to those areas, when examined, the patient feels pain. As noted earlier, inflammation of the appendix is ​​accompanied by the appearance of acute pain in the right side of the abdomen. By tapping this part of the patient's body, the doctor will be able to identify the intensity and nature of the pain.

In addition to a visual examination, the doctor may prescribe laboratory tests of urine and blood, in which the number of leukocytes is determined. If a woman is being examined, the doctor often prescribes a pregnancy test. Such tests can detect inflammation, if any, or the presence of adhesions.

On a note! For a more accurate picture, other types of diagnostics are needed, for example, computed tomography, ultrasound, X-ray examination, etc. With their help, it is possible to identify pathological changes in the internal organs of the patient, including the appendix.

In rare cases, when the symptoms of appendicitis are not pronounced, the doctor prescribes an additional diagnostic procedure - laparoscopy. But before that, the patient must be examined by an anesthesiologist. Based on the results of the tests performed, the doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis. If it is still appendicitis, then immediate surgical intervention is required.

Types of operations

It is worth noting that in some European countries, acute appendicitis is treated with antibacterial drugs. But almost everywhere, surgical intervention is required. This operation, during which the surgeon removes the appendix, is called an appendectomy in medicine. There are two methods of removing an inflamed appendix - the classical method and using laparoscopy. Now more about each of the methods.

Classic method

This is an abdominal surgery performed under general anesthesia. On the surface of the patient's peritoneum, the doctor makes a small incision with a scalpel. Then the process is carefully removed, and the incision made is sutured. The method is simple and cheap, but after it, traces of stitches remain on the patient's body, therefore, during the recovery period, the patient is forced to take special preparations that absorb the stitches.

Laparoscopy

Another method of surgical removal of the appendix, which differs from the previous one in a low injury rate. The duration of the recovery period after laparoscopy is rather short, but despite such advantages, this type of operation has many different contraindications. Therefore, when choosing a method of surgical intervention, the doctor must fully inform the patient about all possible risks.

Important! If you suspect you have appendicitis, you should not self-medicate to relieve symptoms. Many apply hot or cold compresses to the sore spot, take pain relievers. But all this can only aggravate an already difficult situation.

Recovery after surgery

Upon completion of the operation, the patient is assigned bed rest, which must be observed for 24 hours. On the second day, it is allowed to walk a little, but only on condition that there are no complications. Regular, but moderate exercise can speed up the recovery process, as well as avoid the formation of adhesions. As a rule, the removal of postoperative sutures occurs 6-7 days after the removal of the appendix. But for a full-fledged scar formation after performing a classic operation, it takes much longer (about 6 months). This is provided that the patient will properly comply with all the prescriptions of doctors.

The recovery period includes not only avoiding heavy physical exertion. The patient should also follow a special diet and take medications that accelerate the healing of scars. Let's consider each of the recovery stages separately.

Medicines

To tighten postoperative scars, different drugs are used, each of which differs in its composition, properties or cost. But not all of them will be able to help in your case, so you need to use only those funds that are prescribed by your doctor. Below are the most common medications used during the recovery period.

Table. Pharmacy preparations for the care of scars.

Name of the drug, photo	Description
Contractubex	An effective anti-infective drug that protects the postoperative scar from various types of infections. With regular use, you can completely get rid of the unattractive scar on the surface of the abdomen.
Strataderm	This preparation contains highly purified silicone polymers, thanks to which the gel creates a special protective film on the surface of the patient's skin. Designed for the treatment of various types of scars, including postoperative.
Mederma	Another drug for the treatment of scars and scars. Allantoin and celapine are active components. Produced in the form of an ointment, the drug has anti-inflammatory and fibrinolytic properties. Promotes rapid regeneration of damaged tissues, improves blood circulation in the area of ​​sutures after surgery.
Dermatix	An effective medicinal product based on silicone. It is used in medicine not only to treat scars and scars on the body, but also to smooth out old defects in the patient's skin. The active ingredient is polysiloxane (organic matter) and silicon oxide. The medicine is applied as follows: a small amount of gel is applied to dry skin and left there until it dries completely. After that, the remaining gel must be washed off with warm water. Repeat the procedure 2-3 times a day until the traces of the operation disappear completely.
Clearwin	The unique composition of the cream allows you to use it against acne, age spots on the skin or stretch marks. It also copes well with postoperative scars. The drug contains exclusively natural ingredients, thanks to which the cream has become so popular. Its action consists in deep penetration into the epidermal layers, due to which the patient's skin is enriched with oxygen and restored.
Sledocide	Used in the treatment of acne, acne or postoperative scars. The action of the drug is to remove inflammatory processes and accelerate the regeneration of the skin. This allows not only to eliminate existing skin defects, but also to prevent the appearance of new ones. Sledocyte is used for the whole body. It must be applied to the problem area and wait until the product is completely dry. Repeat the procedure several times a day.

On a note! After the laparoscopy, the patient is discharged after about 3-4 days, after the classical method - not earlier than a week later. Throughout the entire recovery period, which lasts 6 months, doctors recommend refraining from intense physical activity.

Nutrition

Immediately after the anesthesia ceases to work after the operation is completed, the patient begins to experience intense thirst. But you cannot drink water during this period, you can only moisten your lips. In rare cases, when there is no strength to endure thirst, the doctor may allow you to drink a small amount of boiled water. If the recovery period is not accompanied by any serious complications, then, starting from the second day, the patient can eat food. Of course, everything should be strictly according to plan.

The diet after the removal of the appendix looks like this:

• 1-2 days after surgery. The diet should contain porridge, low-fat soup, water. You need to eat on the second day after the procedure to start the digestive system. If the patient is not able to eat on his own (he has no strength left), then he should be helped with this;
• on day 3 it is allowed to eat a little butter and durum wheat bread. This is in addition to the above products;
• starting from day 4 the patient can gradually expand his menu by adding various products. Of course, all actions must be agreed with the attending physician.

During the recovery period after the removal of the appendix, it is extremely important to follow all the doctor's recommendations and inform him about any suspicious symptoms that may arise. The use of harmful products, smoking and alcoholic beverages must be abandoned, since this will only slow down the healing process. The correct regimen will not only speed up the recovery process, but also prevent serious complications.

Complications of appendicitis

Despite the development of modern medicine, it is not always possible to avoid serious consequences. Failure to follow the doctor's recommendations or making mistakes during the operation can lead to various complications, including:

• internal bleeding, which will negatively affect the work of the cardiovascular system. Incorrect suturing or carelessness of the surgeon who performed the operation can provoke blood loss;
  

  Possible complications

• disruption of the respiratory system. As a rule, such problems arise when there is severe pain in the area of ​​the wound left after the operation. In this case, only breathing exercises can help;
• paresis of the gastrointestinal tract and bladder. Such a delay can be provoked by the intake of muscle relaxants - medications that weaken the tone of the patient's skeletal muscles;
• development of the inflammatory process. Often times, surgery is very stressful for the patient, resulting in a weakened immune system. This leads to the development of inflammation (sepsis, pneumonia, peritonitis, etc.);
• blockage of the pulmonary arteries or thromboembolism. This is a serious complication that can be fatal. There are many different therapies for blockage, including surgical, reperfusion, anticoagulant, hemodynamic correction, and hypoxia. The pathology is dangerous, but completely curable.

The development of adhesions in the abdomen often leads to fistulas. This requires additional treatment. It should be noted that most complications can be prevented if all the prescriptions of doctors are followed during the recovery period.

Video - Removal of appendicitis using laparoscopy