Laparoscopic Surgery
Appendicitis treatment in Chennai
The appendix is a muscular and tubular organ that is joined to the large intestine near its junction with the small intestine and it is usually present in the right lower abdomen.
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- 20,000+laparoscopic surgeries
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- BillrothShenoy Nagar
Key facts about Appendicitis
- Condition
- Appendicitis
- Speciality
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Approach
- Keyhole where suitable
- Treated by
- Dr. Kumaragurubaran
- Hospital
- Billroth, Shenoy Nagar
- Consultations
- Mon–Sat, no referral
What is Appendicitis?
APPENDIX — The appendix is a muscular and tubular organ that is joined to the large intestine near its junction with the small intestine and it is usually present in the right lower abdomen. The appendix protrudes from the cecum a pouch-like structure in the large intestine at its lower end near its junction with the small intestine. The appendix typically has a diameter of 7 to 8mm and a length of 2 to 20 cm with an average length of 9cm.
APPENDICITIS — Appendicitis is infection of the appendix and is a painful condition in which the appendix becomes inflamed and filled with pus, a fluid made up of dead cells and inflammatory tissue that often results from an infection. The appendix becomes large and enlarged and the infection may spread to the surrounding tissues and the appendix may become rotten and several times it may burst causing peritonitis.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
The signs patients most often describe. Anything lasting more than a few weeks is worth having examined.
- Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen
- Sudden pain that begins around the navel and often shifts to the lower right abdomen
- Pain that worsens while coughing, walking or making other jarring movements
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Abdominal bloating
- The site of pain may vary, depending on the patient’s age and position of the appendix and the severity of appendicitis, but most of the time the pain is in the right lower abdomen.
What causes Appendicitis?
- A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of appendicitis.
- The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed swollen, and filled with pus. If not treated promptly the appendix can rupture.
- Constipation can lead to an appendicolith in the appendix, which can lead to appendicitis.
- Intestinal infection can spread to the appendix leading to appendicitis.
How Appendicitis is diagnosed
No operation is planned on a guess — the diagnosis is established first.
- Most of the time the doctors examining the patient may clinically diagnose appendicitis however the diagnosis of appendicitis can be confirmed by doing a CT scan of the abdomen/ultrasound of the abdomen /biochemical blood investigations.
How Appendicitis is treated
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Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the inflamed appendix. Before surgery, a dose of antibiotics given to treat infection.
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Removal of the appendix is carried out under general anesthesia using two methods 1)Laparoscopic Appendicectomy and 2)Open Appendicectomy
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Laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery)entails making 3 small keyholes in the abdomen and inserting a miniaturized camera and laparoscopic surgical instruments.
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The surgeon then removes the appendix with the laparoscopic instruments, eliminating the need for a big incision in the belly.
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Most of the time laparoscopic surgery is done to remove the appendix.
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Dr. Kumaragurubaran has a huge experience and he is an expert in laparoscopic appendicectomy procedure.
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Even though most of the time laparoscopic is done to remove the appendix very rarely sometimes open surgery may be required to remove the appendix.
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Open surgery is recommended when the appendix has already burst and formed a lump and a complicated situation arises when there is widespread infection of the inner lining of the abdomen.
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Most of the time Dr. Kumaragurubaran removes the appendix by laparoscopic even in the most complicated cases and only in rare cases open surgery is performed.
Keyhole versus open surgery
Typical differences for a planned procedure in a generally healthy adult. Your own risks are discussed with you before consent.
| Measure | Open surgery | Keyhole |
|---|---|---|
| Incision | One cut, 10–15 cm | Three or four cuts, 5–10 mm |
| Hospital stay | 3–5 nights | Same day to 1 night |
| Back to desk work | 4–6 weeks | About 1 week |
| Wound infection risk | Higher | Substantially lower |
| Scarring | One long scar | Marks that fade |
| Still right when | Dense adhesions, bleeding, unclear anatomy | The large majority of planned cases |
Risks if Appendicitis is left untreated
- If the appendix bursts, the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) will become infected with bacteria.
- This is called peritonitis.
- Internal organs can also be damaged.
- Abscess forms around a burst appendix.
- This is a painful collection of pus that forms when the body tries to fight the infection and the appendix is surrounded by pus and it is an emergency situation that needs to be operated on urgently.
- Sometimes the surrounding intestines adhere to the appendix forming a mass.
- This is a late presentation of improperly treated appendicitis and many times may have to be conservatively treated with medicines and planned for interval appendicectomy later. Most of the time the appendicular mass can be diagnosed on CT scan.
Why patients choose this practice
Diagnosis before decision
No operation is scheduled on a guess. Many patients who arrive expecting surgery leave with a treatment plan instead.
Costs in writing, first
A written estimate covering surgeon, theatre, anaesthesia, implants and expected stay before you are asked to consent.
Keyhole most of the time
Ninety-five per cent of procedures are completed through keyhole access; the rest are open because open was the safer call.
Second opinions
If surgery has been advised elsewhere, bring the scans and the plan. Reviewing another surgeon’s recommendation is routine.
About the surgeon
Treated by
Dr. Kumaragurubaran
Senior Surgical Gastroenterologist, Advanced Laparoscopic, GI & Robotic Surgeon
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MRCS (England), FIAGES (Gastro), FALS (Colorectal, Bariatric, Hernia, Robotic), Dip. ALS (Advanced Laparoscopy)
Gastroenterologist, GI & Laparoscopic Surgeon at Billroth Hospitals in Shenoy Nagar, Chennai. Treats Hernia, Reflux, Obesity, Colorectal, Gastrointestinal and Anorectal conditions, and provides medical treatment for GERD, Gastritis, Peptic ulcer, Jaundice, Pancreatitis, Colitis and IBD.
Appendicitis: frequently asked questions
What is Appendicitis?
The appendix is a muscular and tubular organ that is joined to the large intestine near its junction with the small intestine and it is usually present in the right lower abdomen.
What are the symptoms of Appendicitis?
Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen. Sudden pain that begins around the navel and often shifts to the lower right abdomen. Pain that worsens while coughing, walking or making other jarring movements. Nausea and vomiting.
What causes Appendicitis?
A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of appendicitis. The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed swollen, and filled with pus. If not treated promptly the appendix can rupture. Constipation can lead to an appendicolith in the appendix, which can lead to appendicitis.
How is Appendicitis diagnosed?
Most of the time the doctors examining the patient may clinically diagnose appendicitis however the diagnosis of appendicitis can be confirmed by doing a CT scan of the abdomen/ultrasound of the abdomen /biochemical blood investigations.
How is Appendicitis treated?
Treatment usually involves surgery to remove the inflamed appendix. Before surgery, a dose of antibiotics given to treat infection. Removal of the appendix is carried out under general anesthesia using two methods 1)Laparoscopic Appendicectomy and 2)Open Appendicectomy. Laparoscopic surgery (keyhole surgery)entails making 3 small keyholes in the abdomen and inserting a miniaturized camera and laparoscopic surgical instruments.
What happens if Appendicitis is left untreated?
If the appendix bursts, the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) will become infected with bacteria. This is called peritonitis. Internal organs can also be damaged.
Who treats Appendicitis in Chennai?
Dr. Kumaragurubaran, Senior Consultant Gastroenterologist, Laparoscopic, GI & Robotic Surgeon at Billroth Hospitals, Shenoy Nagar, Chennai, treats Appendicitis. He has 28 years of experience and has performed more than 20,000 laparoscopic surgeries.
How do I book a consultation for Appendicitis?
You can call +91 93603 91740, message on WhatsApp, or send the appointment form on this site. No referral is needed and most patients are seen within the same week. Consultations run Monday to Saturday at Billroth Hospitals, Shenoy Nagar.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kumaragurubaran, MS (General Surgery), DNB (Surgical Gastroenterology), Senior Consultant at Billroth Hospitals, Shenoy Nagar. This page is patient education and does not replace a consultation in which you have been examined.
Next step
Discuss Appendicitis with Dr. Kumaragurubaran
Bring any scans or reports you already have. You will be told plainly what is wrong, what the options are, and what happens if nothing is done.