Appendectomies in Scottsdale, AZ
Most are familiar with the condition known as appendicitis: When your appendix becomes inflamed, it causes severe pain in your lower right abdomen and must be treated immediately. The best treatment for this condition is having your appendix surgically removed. While your appendix is believed to assist with recovery from diarrhea, inflammation, and intestinal infections, the appendix is not a vital organ, and patients can live long, fulfilling lives without their appendix at all.
At Surgical Professionals, our team of highly skilled surgeons has years of experience performing appendectomies on patients throughout Scottsdale. Over nearly 20 years, we have developed a reputation for providing numerous successful appendectomy operations, safely removing inflamed appendices from affected patients.
Consult with our team about your surgical options for your appendicitis by contacting us today!
Signs You May Need an Appendectomy
When your appendix becomes inflamed, leaving it untreated can have dire consequences. Namely, the appendix could burst and release bacteria and other harmful substances into the abdominal cavity. This can cause extreme complications — including death — which is why it’s critical to have the appendix removed before it bursts. Scottsdale patients who are suffering from any of the below symptoms should seek treatment immediately:
- Pain in the lower right abdomen
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lost appetite
- Low-grade fever
- Rigid abdominal muscles
Not every patient who has appendicitis will exhibit all of these symptoms. Even if the only symptom you have is pain in your lower right abdomen, go to the emergency room immediately. An emergency appendectomy may be necessary to prevent further complications.
How Appendectomies Are Performed
Appendectomies are fairly simple procedures that are performed in one of two ways: open surgery or laparoscopic surgery.
Open Appendectomies
During an open appendectomy, surgeons make a long incision over the appendix, remove the inflamed organ, and sew the incision shut with stitches. This is the traditional approach and is used in some cases, especially in complicated ruptured appendicitis cases with abscesses if laparoscopy cannot be done.
Laparoscopic Appendectomies
A less invasive option, laparoscopic appendectomies involve a series of small incisions, which are then used to place a tiny light, HD camera, and other surgical equipment into the body to perform the procedure. Due to the smaller incisions, this surgery has a faster recovery time. In fact, many of Surgical Professionals’ laparoscopic appendectomy patients may be discharged to their homes right from the recovery room if their appendix has not burst at the time of surgery. We perform the majority of our appendectomies using a laparoscopic approach.
Whether you’ve had an open appendectomy or a laparoscopic procedure, patients will remain at the hospital for monitoring for several hours. Some patients may return home the same day, while others may need to stay overnight for additional monitoring, depending on the severity of their condition. Those who have had a leak, rupture, abscess, or other complications may need to stay at the hospital for several days to receive antibiotic treatments. Regardless of the severity, full recovery from an appendectomy typically takes between four to six weeks; however, most patients are able to walk and move around safely the same day their surgery occurred.
Potential Risks of Appendectomies
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved in treating an inflamed appendix through an appendectomy. While rare, such risks include the following:
- Pain, discomfort, infection, and bleeding
- Postsurgical infection or abscess
- Blocked bowels
- Injury to nearby organs
It’s important to note that the potential complications for an appendectomy are far less life-threatening than failing to remove the affected organ in the first place. Always seek medical attention immediately if you suspect that you have appendicitis.
Schedule Your Appendectomy With Scottsdale’s Surgical Professionals
For nearly years, the general surgeons at Surgical Professionals have proudly served appendicitis patients throughout the Phoenix area, including the Scottsdale region. Our team is committed to delivering long-lasting surgical solutions to each of our patients, tailoring their treatment plans to their specific conditions. If you suspect that you have appendicitis, don’t hesitate to call our team immediately or go to our emergency room to request an emergency consultation.
Contact us today to schedule your Scottsdale appendectomy consultation.
