Surgery for appendicitis, known as appendectomy, is the treatment used in case of inflammation of the appendix. This surgery is usually done whenever the appendicitis is confirmed by the doctor, through clinical examination and an ultrasound or tomography of the abdomen, for example. See which doctor to look for in case of appendicitis.
Surgery for appendicitis is usually done under general anesthesia and lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, and can be done in 2 ways:
- Surgery for laparoscopic appendicitis: the appendix is removed through 3 small cuts of 1 cm, through which a small camera and surgical instruments are introduced. In this type of surgery, recovery is faster and the scar is smaller, and may be almost imperceptible; Surgery for traditional appendicitis: a cut of about 5 cm is made in the abdomen on the right side, requiring greater manipulation of the region, which makes the recovery slower and leaving a scar more visible. It is usually used whenever the appendix is very dilated or ruptured.
Surgery to remove the appendix is usually done in the first 24 hours after diagnosis of the disease, in order to avoid complications of this inflammation, such as suppurative appendicitis or generalized infection of the abdomen.
The symptoms that indicate acute appendicitis are severe abdominal pain, worsening pain when eating, nausea, vomiting and fever, however, it is possible to have an appendicitis with milder symptoms, giving rise to a more widespread disease, which is chronic appendicitis. Learn how to identify the symptoms that indicate appendicitis, and when to go to the doctor.
The length of stay in surgery for appendicitis is about 1 to 3 days, and the person returns home as soon as he / she is able to eat normally with solid foods.
How is recovery
Recovery after surgery for appendicitis can take from 1 week to 1 month in the case of traditional appendectomy, and is usually faster in laparoscopic appendectomy.
During this period, some important precautions with appendectomy include:
- Stay in relative rest for the first 7 days, with short walks recommended, but avoiding efforts and carrying weight; Treat the wound at the clinic every 2 days, removing the stitches 8 to 10 days after surgery; Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, especially hot drinks like tea; Eat grilled or cooked food, giving preference to white meat, fish, vegetables and fruit. Find out how the appendicitis postoperative diet should be; Press the wound when it is necessary to cough, during the first 7 days; Avoid exercise in the first 15 days, being careful when picking up heavy objects or when going up and down stairs, for example; Sleeping on your back for the first 2 weeks; Avoid driving for the first 3 weeks after surgery and be careful when placing the seat belt over the scar.
The postoperative period may vary according to the surgical technique or with possible complications that may exist, therefore, the surgeon is the one to indicate when it is possible to return to work, driving and physical activity.
Price of surgery for appendicitis
The value of surgery for appendicitis is about 6, 000 reais, but the amount may vary according to the hospital selected, the technique used and the length of stay. However, surgery can be done free of charge through SUS.
Possible risks
The main complications of surgery for appendicitis are constipation and wound infection and, therefore, when the patient is without defecation for more than 3 days or shows signs of infection, such as redness in the wound, pus output, constant pain or fever above 38ºC should inform the surgeon to start the appropriate treatment.
The risks of surgery for appendicitis are rare, arising mainly in case of rupture of the appendix.
