Appendicitis

Abdominal pain among children is quite common though some pains can have higher significance compared to the others. It is important for parents to be attentive if pains intensify and become localized in the lower right side of the abdomen. It is most likely that it is appendicitis and will need surgical intervention. Generally children in the age group six and above are prone to inflammation of the appendix. It can also happen to children of a lower age group and since they are not able to relate the symptoms it often becomes a surgical emergency. Parents have to be extremely vigilant and consult ... Read Full Story

We utilize a three-port technique, with one umbilical and one suprapubic port in order to perform an appendicitis surgery. Although the third port can be placed in either the left or right lower quadrant, we prefer the left lower quadrant. This follows the laparoscopic principle of triangulation, such that the port locations direct the camera and instruments toward the right lower quadrant for optimal visualization of the appendicitis. The appendicitis patient is positioned supine on the operating room table with the left arm tucked . The video monitor is placed at the patient’s right side, because once pneumoperitoneum is performed, the surgeon and assistant ... Read Full Story

We utilize a three-port technique, with one umbilical and one suprapubic port. Although the third port can be placed in either the left or right lower quadrant, we prefer the left lower quadrant. This follows the laparoscopic principle of triangulation, such that the port locations direct the camera and instruments toward the right lower quadrant for optimal visualization of the appendix. The patient is positioned supine on the operating room table with the left arm tucked . The video monitor is placed at the patient’s right side, because once pneumoperitoneum is performed, the surgeon and assistant both stand on the patient’s left. A single ... Read Full Story

If open appendectomy is chosen for treat appendicitis, the surgeon must then decide on the location and type of incision. Prior to incision, a single dose of antibiotics should be administered, typically a second-generation cephalosporin.The appendicitis patient should be re-examined after the induction of general anesthesia, which enables deep palpation of the abdomen. If a mass representing the inflamed appendix can be palpated, the incision can be centered at that location. If no appendiceal mass is detected, the incision should be centered over McBurney’s point, one-third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus. A curvilinear incision, now known as ... Read Full Story

If open appendectomy is chosen, the surgeon must then decide on the location and type of incision. Prior to incision, a single dose of antibiotics should be administered, typically a second-generation cephalosporin.The patient should be re-examined after the induction of general anesthesia, which enables deep palpation of the abdomen. If a mass representing the inflamed appendix can be palpated, the incision can be centered at that location. If no appendiceal mass is detected, the incision should be centered over McBurney’s point, one-third of the distance from the anterior superior iliac spine to the umbilicus. A curvilinear incision, now known as a McBurney’s incision, is ... Read Full Story