How is appendicitis treated?
-
Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:When the appendix, a small tube of tissue at the beginning of the large intestine, becomes blocked and inflamed, it must be surgically removed. Appendicitis is a medical emergency. Watch Dr. Oz discuss appendicitis.
When the appendix, a small tube of tissue at the beginning of the large intestine, becomes blocked and inflamed, it must be surgically removed. Appendicitis is a medical emergency. Watch Dr. Oz discuss appendicitis. More -
Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Specific treatment for appendicitis will be determined by your physician based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Extent of the condition
- Your tolerance of specific
- medicines, procedures, or therapies
- Expectations for the course of the condition
- Your opinion or preference
Because of the likelihood of the appendix rupturing and causing a severe, life-threatening infection, physicians will recommend that the appendix be removed with an operation.
Specific treatment for appendicitis will be determined by your physician based on: Your age, overall health, and medical history Extent of the condition Your tolerance of specific medicines, procedures, or therapies Expectations for the course of... More -
Dr. John Linn of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:Acute appendicitis is usually treated with appendectomy. In some circumstances, the appendix has perforated with a walled-off infection adjacent to it, and surgery may not be necessary. Most operations for acute appendicitis can be accomplished laparoscopically, and patients usually are discharged the next day.
Some have recently suggested that appendicitis can be treated with antibiotics alone, without surgery. However, results of this approach have not been perfect, and a significant number of patients still require surgery for this disease. Since the risk profile of laparoscopic appendectomy is fairly low, surgery is usually recommended.
Acute appendicitis is usually treated with appendectomy. In some circumstances, the appendix has perforated with a walled-off infection adjacent to it, and surgery may not be necessary. Most operations for acute appendicitis can be accomplished... More -
Dr. Rupa Seetharamaiah of Baptist Health South Florida answered:Patients with appendicitis usually have surgery to remove their appendix. In some cases, it may be safe to use antibiotics as a first-line treatment instead.
Some studies have shown that patients treated with antibiotics were at no increased risk of their appendix bursting compared to those who underwent surgery.
However, patients with complicated appendicitis — in which the appendix has burst, or the lining of the abdominal cavity is swollen and infected — should still be treated with surgery. Surgery remains the best option for preventing further serious complications from appendicitis.
Patients with appendicitis usually have surgery to remove their appendix. In some cases, it may be safe to use antibiotics as a first-line treatment instead. Some studies have shown that patients treated with antibiotics were at no increased risk of... More
