Does appendicitis surgery require an incision?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on October 29, 2024
00:00
00:00

Appendicitis surgery can be performed through traditional open surgery or minimally invasive treatment. Open surgery involves a traditional incision at McBurney's point to remove the appendix, which is now rarely used, predominantly replaced by minimally invasive treatment under laparoscopy. The procedure is the same for both methods, involving ligation of the appendicular artery followed by cutting the appendix at its base and suturing the stump. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include less intraoperative bleeding, faster postoperative recovery, and less physical trauma. Patients can choose between open surgery or minimally invasive treatment based on their personal circumstances and financial conditions.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
39sec home-news-image

Appendicitis surgery how many days to remove stitches?

Appendectomy stitches are generally removed about a week after the surgery. However, there are special circumstances where the removal of stitches may be delayed. For example, if the patient is physically weak, nutritionally compromised, or if the wound heals slowly, it is necessary to wait until the wound has sufficiently healed before removing the stitches. If the appendectomy incision shows clear signs of pus formation, it is crucial to remove the stitches promptly, thoroughly clean the wound, and then dress it externally. Therefore, the timing for stitch removal after an appendectomy should be based on the patient's current medical condition.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
47sec home-news-image

Where does appendicitis hurt?

In general clinical practice, the pain associated with appendicitis mostly occurs in the lower right abdomen. Some patients experience very typical migratory right lower abdominal pain which usually starts in the upper abdomen, gradually moves around the navel, and finally localizes in the lower right abdomen. Direct pain in the lower right abdomen could also be indicative of appendicitis. In rare cases, if there is a reversal of organs or an abnormal position of the appendix, pain may occur in the upper right abdomen or lower abdomen as well. For pregnant women, the appendix may be positioned higher and could cause pain under the rib cage. Therefore, the diagnosis of appendicitis should be based on the specific condition of the patient and related diagnostic tests.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
1min 4sec home-news-image

Appendicitis location

The location of appendicitis is generally in the lower right abdomen, as the appendix is mostly located in the right iliac fossa. There are very few cases of situs inversus, where it is located on the left, but the appendix usually originates from the base of the cecum, attached to the posterior wall of the cecum, at the confluence of the three taeniae coli. Therefore, the surface projection of the appendix is mostly at the junction of the outer one-third of the line connecting the navel and the right anterior superior iliac spine, which is also commonly used as the marking point for surgical incisions. In cases of appendicitis, there may be pain in the upper right abdomen or pelvic region due to changes in the position of the appendix. For confirmed diagnoses of appendicitis, surgery is generally considered, and minimally invasive methods can be chosen. If an abscess forms around the appendix and the patient's condition can be managed, conservative treatment is usually preferred initially, followed by elective removal of the appendix after three months.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
53sec home-news-image

Early symptoms of appendicitis

What are the initial symptoms of appendicitis? It is characterized by abdominal pain. The main symptom is abdominal pain that appears around the upper abdomen or navel, and some patients may also experience nausea and vomiting. Generally, two to three hours later, the abdominal pain gradually shifts to the lower right abdomen, which we clinically refer to as migratory right lower abdominal pain. This symptom accounts for about 80% of clinical cases, while some patients present directly with pain in the lower right abdomen, without transitional abdominal pain. Therefore, the primary symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain, as described in these two scenarios. However, physical examination is also very important, typically revealing localized fixed tenderness in the lower right abdomen as the main clinical manifestation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
1min 5sec home-news-image

Diagnosis methods for chronic appendicitis

The diagnostic methods for chronic appendicitis mainly include medical history, clinical symptoms, physical examination, laboratory tests, and auxiliary examinations. Firstly, cases of chronic appendicitis generally have a history of acute appendicitis episodes. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by pain, discomfort, and dull pain in the lower right abdomen, often without a history of migratory lower right abdominal pain. In physical examinations, tenderness can be found in the lower right abdomen, and when chronic appendicitis flares up acutely, signs of peritonitis can manifest as rebound pain in the lower right abdomen. In laboratory tests, an increased white blood cell count can be observed. Auxiliary examinations may reveal thickening of the appendix wall and obstruction in the appendix lumen due to fecaliths. Therefore, chronic appendicitis can be diagnosed through methods such as medical history, clinical symptoms, physical examination, laboratory tests, and auxiliary examinations.