“What side effects should I look out for after son's appendectomy?”
My 12-year-old son needs to have an appendectomy, and I'm curious about any side effects I should look out for after the surgery. What are some potential symptoms of complications from an appendectomy?
6 Answers
If it is done laparoscopically, the recovery and discomfort times are short.
Discuss with Surgeon or NP. Google, You Tube or Wikipedia. You need pictures.
General anesthesia can cause drowsiness, and fatigue. There can be adhesions occurring after surgery in the peritoneal cavity. If sterile technique and a good surgeon, no complications should occur - meaning no rupture of the appendix pre- or intra-op.
Appendicitis is a focal infection and the accepted treatment is to remove the appendix (Appendectomy). This procedure presently is done with less invasion of the abdomen (Laparoscopy). Most common complication is wound infection or an abscess. That usually occurs a few days after surgery. The hallmark is fever. There is no long-term side effect after a properly done appendectomy.
The surgery is pretty straight forward. It really depends on whether it is done open or laparoscopic and whether we are talking about acute appendicitis or ruptured. The complications can differ depending on the situation.
Common post-operative side effects including pain, low grade temperatures (<99.5), and constipation. More worrisome complications are the result of a leak where the appendix was removed or formation of an abscess/infection and include severe unrelenting pain, fevers >101, nausea, and vomiting. Other rarer complications include hernias (bulge at the incision site).
