Risks of appendectomy include:

• Infection at the surgical site

Signs and symptoms include redness, warmth, drainage of pus, and fever.

• Bleeding

The incision may bleed during or after the procedure. Bleeding can be controlled with medication or returning to the hospital for further surgery.

• Reaction to anesthesia

Anesthesia reactions range from mild side effects such as nausea and vomiting to rare but more serious reactions involving the heart, lungs, and brain.

• Blood clots that form in the legs or lungs after surgery

These blood clots can be life-threatening if they travel to other parts of your body, including your lungs or brain. Usually, this is seen in elderly patients undergoing prolonged surgery but rarely may affect children.

How is Laparoscopic Appendectomy Performed in children?

• The patient is given general anesthesia. It is the only way to perform an appendectomy, as it is a very invasive procedure.
• The surgeon makes a small incision in the abdomen. Carbon dioxide gas is then released into the abdomen to create space between the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall.
• A laparoscope, a narrow tube containing a light and camera, is inserted by the surgeon through the small incision. The laparoscope sends images of the appendix and abdominal organs to the monitor.
• The surgeon inserts other surgical instruments into other small incisions and uses them to remove the appendix, which will be sent to the lab for analysis.
• The surgeon removes all instruments from the incisions and closes them with stitches or surgical tape.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the performance of laparoscopic appendectomy in children has been greatly improved. This method is a safe alternative to open surgery as it causes fewer complications, is a shorter procedure, and reduces the patient’s stress.

About Dr. Vishesh Dikshit

Dr. Vishesh Dikshit graduated from Govt. Medical College Calicut, Kerala, in 2004 with an MBBS degree in medicine. MS in General Surgery from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College in Sion, Mumbai, in 2012, and MCh in Pediatric Surgery from Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College in Sion, Mumbai, in 2015.

In particular, he is interested in Pediatric Minimal Access Surgery (through Laparoscopy, Thoracoscopy, and Genitourinary-scopy), Pediatric Colorectal diseases (including Hirschprung’s disease and Anorectal Abnormalities), and Pediatric Urology Disease.

Is Appendicitis Common?

Yes, appendicitis is a common cause of abdominal pain. Appendicitis can occur at any age, and mostly the teens are affected with inflammation in the Appendix.

 Cause of Appendicitis

Till date, it is hard to find the exact reason for Appendicitis. Inflammation in the Appendix may occur due to specific reasons that are not entirely clear until now. Well, still, some causes for Appendicitis are mentioned below:

• Injury to the abdomen
• Obstruction (mainly due to stool particles) at the opening where the Appendix is connected to the large intestine.
• Infection in the digestive tract.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Some excess growth is in the Appendix.

 Symptoms of Appendicitis

Every parent needs to know the symptoms that their kids can show if they suffer from Appendicitis. They can present with abdominal pain, swollen belly, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite and fever.

 How to Diagnose?

Doctors will use the following diagnostic process to understand your kids’ situation.

• Doctors will conduct a physical examination by applying gentle pressure on the abdomen.
• The doctors may opt for a blood test, which will reveal the infection. Sometimes a urine test may also need to be done.
• An ultrasound will mostly reveal the condition but sometimes an CT scan may also be needed. An Xray of the abdomen may be done reveal other conditions.

Treatment for Appendicitis

Appendicitis treatment usually involves surgery to remove the inflamed appendix. Before the surgery the child may be given a dose of antibiotics to treat infection. If your child has appendicitis, appendix will usually need to be removed as soon as possible. This operation is known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy and is usually done laparoscopically. Surgery is often also recommended if there’s a chance that your child has appendicitis but it’s not been possible to make a clear diagnosis.

Conclusion : 

If your child is suffering from Appendicitis or any other Pediatric Surgical problem, contact Dr. Vishesh Dikshit for a consultation.