Appendectomy
Advanced Robotics and Laparoscopic Surgeons located in Roseville, Carmichael, Grass Valley and Folsom, CA
Appendectomy has been the standard treatment for life-threatening appendicitis for about 120 years, and it’s performed about 300,000 times a year in the United States. The surgeons at Sierra Pacific Surgical in Roseville, Folsom, and Carmichael, California, are well acquainted with appendectomy procedures. They often provide a laparoscopic version that typically involves less pain and a quicker recovery than traditional surgery. Call Sierra Pacific Surgical today for more information about appendectomy or connect with the group online.
Appendectomies are typically performed on an emergency basis to prevent health complications related to an infected and inflamed appendix (appendicitis). The appendix is a small pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower-right abdomen.
Doctors aren’t sure what function the appendix serves in digestion, so you won’t miss it once it’s removed. However, an inflamed appendix is small enough to burst within 36 hours of becoming infected, releasing harmful bacteria into the abdominal cavity.
A ruptured appendix can lead to life-threatening complications such as sepsis or infection of the tissue lining the abdomen (peritonitis). Thus, an appendectomy is considered the safest treatment option for appendicitis unless you can’t undergo surgery because of other health conditions.
Symptoms of appendicitis can vary in intensity and may include:
Pregnant women experiencing appendicitis often report pain in the upper rather than lower belly, likely because the appendix rides higher in the abdomen as the uterus enlarges during pregnancy.
An appendectomy is performed under general anesthesia, which means you sleep through the surgery.
If your appendix has not ruptured, your Sierra Pacific Surgical provider will likely perform a laparoscopic appendectomy.
During this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon makes several small incisions in the abdomen. They use one of the incisions to insert a laparoscope for viewing the surgical field and pass surgical instruments through the others.
Once the surgery is complete, you spend time in the recovery room under close observation. Depending on your overall health, you may be released home within a few hours of waking from the anesthesia.
A ruptured appendix is treated with open surgery. During an open appendectomy, your surgeon makes a large incision in the lower-right abdomen to access the appendix.
After draining fluids or pus released during the rupture, your surgeon removes the appendix, washes the abdominal cavity with a saline solution, and closes the incision. Most people spend 1-2 days in the hospital after an open appendectomy.
Call the Sierra Pacific Surgical office today or use their online service to learn more about appendectomy surgery. Telehealth appointments are available.