Be wary of pain and bloating after appendectomy

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thai Binh - Gastroenterologist - Department of General Surgery - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital. Master, Doctor Nguyen Thai Binh has more than 20 years of experience working in abdominal surgery.
After surgery, patients may experience symptoms after appendectomy depending on the type of surgery and the patient's condition. Doctors warn of abdominal pain and bloating after laparoscopic appendectomy.

1. After appendectomy, my stomach still hurts

Abdominal pain after laparoscopic appendectomy is a condition that most patients experience. In fact, after about 1-3 weeks, the patient can completely return to a normal life, but it also depends on the recovery of each person. There are cases where the incision is inflamed, necrotic, it will take longer to treat.
In surgery, the occurrence of pain is a common manifestation of all patients. However, consider the severity of the pain so that the doctor can determine if this is a severe form of injury?
If after appendectomy, the patient feels back pain but does not have a fever, cough or the incision has swelling, redness, and discharge, it is completely safe. After surgery, it is advisable to sit up and walk early to avoid complications of intestinal paralysis, pneumonia, and comfort the patient. If no vomiting, 6-8 hours to feed.
After surgery, the patient will be given a pain reliever by the doctor to help the patient feel more comfortable. The CO2 that is injected into the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery will cause pain in the shoulder later.
However, if the patient has fainting, severe chest pain and difficulty breathing or is coughing up blood, call 911 immediately. Or the patient has abdominal discomfort and is unable to drink water; pain relievers do not work; the patient has signs of infection such as pain, swelling, warmth, or redness; purulent wounds; fever...; open incision; If there are signs of pain, redness, swelling in the calves, thighs or groin, the family should take the patient to see a doctor for a timely examination and treatment plan.
Many patients after being discharged from the hospital for 3-4 days have severe abdominal pain, abdominal pain location. The above phenomenon may be due to severe damage to the previously removed appendix apex. That is, the remaining appendix is ​​necrotic to form an abscess. Doctors will have to drain the pus out and then suture the apex to cut the appendix.
In this case, if hospitalization is slow and not diagnosed and treated in time, the patient can develop peritonitis leading to dangerous complications that can lead to death.
If you have peritonitis, the patient will be life-threatening and must be treated with antibiotics. This is a dangerous complication that occurs when the appendix bursts, causing pus and fluid to spill into the abdomen. This condition occurs most often in the elderly, young children, and pregnant women. A ruptured appendix also poses a risk of blood infection.

2. Abdominal bloating

After laparoscopic appendicitis surgery, the patient may have abdominal distention due to intra-abdominal inflation, shoulder pain. Usually, if the patient does not have a fever, eats normally, has normal stools, occasionally has a few mild abdominal pain, no fever, no difficulty breathing, or other unusual manifestations, then it can be assured.
It may just be a digestive disorder after surgery, because after the procedure, there are often decreased motility and contractions of the intestines, this situation will improve on its own. Or you can ask your doctor about using a mild laxative. Patients should take pain relievers according to the doctor's instructions.
If the patient continues to have severe, intermittent pain, has bowel loops on the abdominal wall, it may be intestinal obstruction syndrome, needs emergency care, or if there is fever, bloody stools, black stools, diarrhea fluid, pus, swelling of the incision, etc., it may be suspected that there are some complications occurring. These are problems such as peritonitis, intestinal adhesions, intestinal obstruction, inflammatory abscesses of the abdominal wall, abscesses of pockets and douglas, ... often dangerous to health and life.

Vinmec International General Hospital is applying laparoscopic appendectomy to successfully treat thousands of cases of appendicitis.
With outstanding advantages in facilities, modern machinery system, Vinmec is increasingly appreciated not only in laparoscopic appendectomy but also in many other techniques.
The medical team performing the surgery are highly qualified and experienced, ready to handle even when unexpected complications occur. After surgery, the patient will be cared for and closely monitored, rested in a high-quality, international-standard ward, providing maximum support for the recovery process.

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