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How is appendicitis diagnosed? |
What is appendicitis?
The appendix is a small tube attached to the large intestine in the lower right side of the abdomen. It can become blocked, causing it to become swollen, inflamed and infected. Sometimes, the appendix perforates (ruptures or bursts).
Patients with appendicitis can have:
- abdominal pain (constant, gradually worsening and moving to the lower right side)
- nausea and vomiting (feeling sick to their stomach or throwing up)
- loss of appetite
- fever and chills
How is appendicitis diagnosed?
Your doctor will examine you, and ask you questions about your symptoms. You will also have a blood test and an abdominal ultrasound.
What is an appendectomy?
An appendectomy is a surgery to remove a swollen and inflamed appendix (appendicitis).
What happens before surgery?
You will need an intravenous catheter (IV) inserted for fluids. You will not be allowed to eat or drink. You will receive antibiotics through your IV, and will be provided with pain medication as needed.
What happens after surgery?
You will be cared for by a recovery room nurse until you are fully awake.
A nurse will discharge you home later the same day if your appendix was not perforated, or take you to an inpatient room if you require admission.
You will:
- have 3 small incisions or 1 larger one
- start drinking and eating gradually
- have some pain or possibly nausea which will improve with medication
- notice some shoulder pain which gets better within 1-2 days
- start walking several times each day which will help you recover faster, avoid gas pain and regain bowel function
If the appendix was perforated, you will:
- receive antibiotics
- possibly have a nasogastric (NG) tube (which goes from the nose to the stomach)
- possibly have a tube (catheter) in the bladder for urine
- may have an ultrasound 4-5 days after surgery
- may need to have fluid drained from the abdomen 4-5 days after surgery
Taking care of your child or teen at home
| Topic | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Pain: |
Follow your surgeon’s directions carefully. Take appropriate weight-based dose of Tylenol every 4 hours AND Advil every 6 hours for the first 2-3 days after surgery, and then as needed. Sharp pain to the shoulder and side of the neck is common and normal after laparoscopic surgery. It can be aggravated when standing up, and will go away within 1-2 days. Continue to take the recommended pain medication and use a hot water bottle for comfort. |
| Activity: |
Walking multiple times every day is very important to avoid gas pain and regain bowel function. For 4 weeks after surgery, you must avoid:
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| Dressing: |
The incisions are covered with small tapes called steri-strips. Keep the steri-strips clean and dry for 2 days. After that, it’s OK if they get wet. They will dry up and fall off as the incision heals, do not pick at them. If they haven’t fallen off in 10-14 days, you can remove them. Your child’s incisions may be covered with surgical glue. Keep it clean and dry. It will fall off by itself 5-10 days after surgery. Do not pick at it. When the steri-strips or glue has come off there may be some pink around the incision which is normal. It will heal and go away over time. |
| Bathing: | You may shower 2 days after surgery, and can have a bath in 1 week. Don’t scrub the incisions. Dry them gently. |
| School: | You can go back to school when you feel ready, which is typically 1 week after coming home from the hospital. |
| Diet: |
You can have a regular diet. Have plenty of fluids and foods with lots of fibre to help prevent constipation. You may take a stool softener if needed. We recommend PEG/Restoralax/Miralax. Your local pharmacy can help you with product selection and dosing. |
Come back to the Emergency Department if your child or teen has:
- a fever (temperature more than 38.5°C or 100.4°F by mouth).
- bleeding from the incisions.
- signs of infection around incisions (like redness, heat, extreme swelling, or severe, thick, foul smelling or cloudy drainage).
- vomiting or diarrhea.
- pain that doesn’t get better with pain medication.
Questions?
On Monday-Friday from 8 am – 4 pm:
Call CHEO's C6 Surgery clinic at (613) 737-7600 x2325 to speak with our clinic nurse.
For patients of Drs. Nasr, Bettolli, and Eamer: Call Angela Thompson at (613) 737-7600 x2878
For patients of Drs. Cowan and Wolinska: Call Sylvana Ayoub at (613) 737-7600 x3410.
After 4 pm or on weekends
Call CHEO Reception at (613) 737-7600 and ask them to page General Surgery on-call.