The appendix is an organ in the body that is susceptible to infection and inflammation. One effective way to deal with infections and inflammation in the appendix is appendectomy.
The appendix is shaped like a pocket resembling a finger protruding from the large intestine, and is usually located on the right side of the lower abdomen. Because it is shaped like a bag or hollow, the appendix can become blocked.
When the appendix cavity is blocked, the risk of appendicitis increases. Germs that cause infections in the appendix will multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed, swollen, and filled with pus.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
The main symptom of appendicitis is pain in the lower right abdomen. But before, pain can begin around the navel.
The pain can get worse and spread throughout the stomach, as the inflammation expands. This pain will also get worse when the patient moves, for example when walking or just coughing.
The location of abdominal pain due to appendicitis is not always in the lower right abdomen, but varies depending on the position of the appendix and the patient's age. For example when you are pregnant, the appendix position will be pushed upward, causing pain in the upper abdomen.
In addition to abdominal pain, appendicitis also causes complaints in the form of:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation (constipation) or diarrhea
- Bloated
- Fever
Based on the presumption of symptoms that arise, the doctor will do a physical examination (such as pressing the abdominal area and digital rectal examination), laboratory tests (blood and urine tests), and imaging tests (X-rays, ultrasound, or abdominal CT scan) to find out whether true appendicitis which is the cause of abdominal pain.
When does appendicitis need surgery?
Appendicitis can cause dangerous complications, namely rupture of the appendix. Appendix rupture resulting in the release of intestinal contents into the abdominal cavity, resulting in infection throughout the abdominal cavity.
Rupture of the appendix is a dangerous condition because it can cause death. Therefore, inflamed appendicitis needs to be treated immediately.
Until now, appendicitis surgery is still the standard therapy for treating appendicitis. There are several reasons why appendicitis was chosen as the standard treatment, namely:
- The appendix does not have a clear role in survival, so if it is removed, it does not cause long-term health problems.
- If appendicitis therapy is done without surgery, for example using only antibiotics, the risk of recurrence of intestinal inflammation will be very large.
Because of these considerations, doctors often recommend surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy) to treat inflammation in the appendix.
Surgical removal of the appendix can be performed openly by the surgeon through an incision 5-10 cm wide in the lower right abdomen, or by laparoscopic technique using a special tool resembling a camera hose inserted through 1-3 small incisions (the size of key holes) in the abdomen.
The timing of surgery can affect the risk of appendicitis. When surgery should be carried out is still controversial, but a study in 2016 concluded that surgery should be done before 36 hours after the appearance of appendicitis.
According to the study, surgery performed after 36 hours from the onset of symptoms would extend the period of hospitalization and increase the risk of postoperative complications, including slowing bowel movements.
Therefore, if you feel any of the symptoms of appendicitis, you should immediately consult a doctor, so that you can be given the right treatment and avoid complications of appendicitis.
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