Laparoscopic Appendectomy

The appendix is a narrow, small, finger-shaped portion of the large intestine that generally hangs down�from the lower right side of the abdomen.

Appendicitis�is a sudden inflammation of the appendix. Although the appendix does not seem to serve any purpose, it can become diseased and if untreated, can burst, causing infection and even death.

Cause

The cause of appendicitis is usually unknown. Appendicitis may occur after a viral infection in the digestive tract or when the tube connecting the large intestine and appendix is blocked or trapped by stool. It is thought that blockage of the opening of the appendix into the bowel by a hard, small stool fragment causes inflammation and infection of the appendix. The inflammation can cause infection, a blood clot, or rupture of the appendix.

The infected appendix then must be surgically removed before a hole develops in the appendix and spreads the infection to the entire abdominal space.

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain -- pain may begin in the upper-middle abdomen then develop to sharp localized pain
• Abdominal pain may be worse when walking or coughing
• Fever usually occurs within several hours
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Rectal tenderness
• Chills and shaking

If you have these symptoms, see a doctor immediately! Because of the risk of rupture, which may happen as soon as 48 to 72 hours after symptoms begin, appendicitis is considered an emergency.

Treatment

The best treatment of appendicitis is its surgical removal. Mild appendicitis may sometimes be cured with antibiotics. More serious cases are treated with surgery to remove the appendix, called an�appendectomy. Doctors either use an "open" technique or a minimally invasive approach to remove the appendix. An anesthesiologist uses a general anesthetic technique whereby patients are put to sleep and made pain free by administering drugs in the vein or by agents inhaled through a tube placed in the windpipe. Occasionally a spinal anesthetic may be used.

Laparoscopic appendectomy

The laparoscopic surgical technique involves making several tiny cuts in the abdomen and inserting a miniature camera and surgical instruments. As many as three or four incisions are made. One incision is near the umbilicus, or navel and one is between the umbilicus and the pubis. Two other incisions are smaller and are in the right side of the lower abdomen. The surgeon then removes the appendix with the instruments, so there is usually no need to make a large incision in the abdomen. The camera projects a magnified image of the area onto a television monitor which helps guide the surgeons as they remove the appendix.

Most cases of�acute appendicitis�can be treated laparoscopically. The main advantages are:

• Less post-operative pain
• Faster recovery and return to normal activity
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less post-operative complications
• Minimally sized incisions/scars

In most cases, patients can be discharged within 24 to 36 hours. By contrast, the hospital stay is typically two to five days for an open procedure.

The other Gastro procedures are:

• Laparoscopic Assisted Intestinal Resection�
  
• Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy�
  
• Treatment for Liver Cysts�� etc

Few Major Hospitals for Laparoscopic Appendectomy are:

• Wockhardt Hospitals
  
• Apollo Hospitals
  
• Max Healthcare
  
• Piyavate Hospital
  
• Florence Nightingale Hospital
  

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• Thailand
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