Are Appendectomies Always the Best Option?
Sep 9, 2009 | Posted by in Featured, Surgery | 0 Comments
Your appendix is part of the large intestine system of organs. While many researchers in the past have wondered if there is any use for the appendix, new research shows that it has a function. The appendix has been found to be a place where good bacteria live until they are needed by your body. They can be used after a nasty case of diarrhea or an illness, bringing you needed good bacteria and making you healthy.
Sometimes, the appendix can become inflamed and threatens to burst. While this affects less than 8 percent of the population, it can happen. Typically, an inflamed appendix is more common among those under the age of 30. When the appendix is inflamed, it is called appendicitis. Currently, the most common option to treat this condition is called an appendectomy, which result in the removal of the appendix.
Appendectomies are typically used to prevent the appendix from bursting. A burst appendix can be dangerous to your health, as there are bacteria stored in the appendix that can be harmful to you. While there are few options, an appendectomy can be a good solution, particularly in an emergency situation where your appendix may be ready to burst.
A common treatment for appendicitis is surgery, where the doctor will remove all, or part your appendix. There are different types of surgery, with two types of methods that are common today. The first option includes the surgeon making a large incision in your belly to remove the appendix. Another option is for the surgeon to use a laparoscope to remove the appendix. With this method, there is usually a smaller incision made in your abdominal region. While both options are surgical, they are normally not too invasive or difficult.
How do you know if you need to remove your appendix? If you feel belly pain, this can be a symptom. The pain may be located close to the belly button and can be intense. Sometimes people even feel it along their side or along their lower back. It can also move to the lower right side of the belly in some case. Coughing, moving, walking or exercise may make the pain more severe. Additional symptoms may include a fever or a feeling of being sick to your stomach.
The pain may also be hard to identify, it may feel like a stomach ache. Some people have reported feeling no pain at all before needing an appendectomy. Regardless, if you feel like something is wrong, it is best to see a doctor to determine if you need an appendectomy or other treatment.
While the surgery can be invasive, often it only takes a couple of weeks for patients to resume normal activities. Initially, antibiotics may be part of the treatment after surgery.
An appendectomy is a reasonable option in an emergency situation, but talk to your doctor if this is needed. A surgeon or medical specialist will best help you make the decision if an appendectomy is the right choice for you.