Aftercare of an appendectomy | Appendectomy

Aftercare of an appendectomy

Frequently, antibiotic therapy with metronidazole and ciprofloxacin is started already during the operation and is continued for about five days. If the patient is back on his ward after the operation, the follow-up treatment begins. The patient should not eat any more on the day of the operation and slowly start on a light diet the morning after.

Postoperative complaints caused by the anaesthesia, such as nausea, coughing, hoarseness, tiredness and muscle ache (rare) are normal and should improve significantly during the first day. Pain at the surgical wounds is also completely normal and occurs especially as soon as the pain medication of the anaesthetic wears off. In this case further painkillers such as Novalgin® or Ibuprofen can be given.

Postoperative wound pain should improve significantly within a few days, although a much longer lasting pain may occur if the wounds are manipulated (coughing, laughing, sneezing, lifting heavy loads). If a non-absorbable (dissolving) suture material was used during the operation (see if necessary discharge letter), suture traction is necessary after about ten days, but this can be done by the family doctor. How long an inpatient stay is necessary varies depending on the course of the operation and the condition of the patient. In most cases, however, discharge is possible after about two to three days. Further protection of the body should be carried out in any case.

Complications of appendectomy

Appendectomy is one of the most frequently performed operations in Germany. The complication rate is very low (less than 0.1%), which is why the appendix is removed as a precaution even in uncertain cases or in cases of doubtful inflammation. The complications include above all the general anaesthetic and surgical risks.

These are wound infections, allergies, thromboses, embolisms, bleeding, injury to vessels or nerves, pain, administration of blood transfusions with possible reaction to them, inflammation, intraoperative change of procedure, nausea, vomiting, injury to teeth and hoarseness. In addition to the general surgical risk, appendectomy may involve specific complications, such as injury to the intestine, neighbouring organs, nerves or vessels, leakage of sutures, inflammation, abscesses, wound infections, intestinal obstruction, adhesions and scar hernias. In summary, every operation is associated with a certain risk of complications. However, these are extremely rare in appendectomy, which is why it is one of the safest operations of all.

Pain after the appendectomy

An appendectomy is performed under general anesthesia. This means that the patient sleeps during the operation and does not notice anything of the operation. After the operation, post-operative wound pain may occur in the area of the incisions.

These are initially very weak, as the painkillers used during the anaesthesia continue to have an effect for a while. In the course of time, however, they become stronger, usually reaching their maximum in the evening of the operation or at night. Overall, however, the post-operative wound pain during an appendectomy is bearable.

In laparoscopic procedures they are somewhat less than in open procedures, as the skin incisions are significantly smaller. As a rule, painkillers continue to be given after the operation in order to make the patient’s experience as pleasant as possible. These are usually Novalgin® (Metamizol) or Ibuprofen.

The pain should improve significantly over the next few days. A painful pressure at the corresponding points as well as pain when coughing, laughing, sneezing, defecating, moving and lifting heavy loads will continue to occur for a much longer period of time and may still be noticeable after weeks. In cases of severe postoperative pain, pain medication with ibuprofen can be continued after discharge on request.