Consumer Information

Laparoscopic Appendectomy In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Laparoscopic appendectomy is surgery to treat acute appendicitis. Acute appendicitis is a condition where the appendix becomes inflamed (swollen). The appendix is a small pouch that is attached to the cecum (first part of the large intestine). It is located in the lower right side of the abdomen (stomach). A piece of food or hardened stool may get trapped in the appendix. This may cause the appendix to get blocked, infected, swollen, and filled with pus. If left untreated, the appendix may rupture (burst) and cause severe abdominal pain and infection (peritonitis).
In a laparoscopic appendectomy, small incisions (cuts) are made in your child's abdomen (belly). Caregivers will insert special tools and a laparoscope through these incisions to do the surgery. A laparoscope is a long metal tube with a light and tiny video camera on the end. This gives caregivers a clear view of the abdominal area while watching the images on a monitor. During this surgery, your child's appendix will be removed, and the inside of his abdomen cleaned to avoid infection. With a laparoscopic appendectomy, your child's appendicitis may be cured, and the symptoms it causes relieved.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

Keep a list of your child's medicines: Keep a written list of the medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could lead to brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight infection caused by bacteria. Give this medicine as ordered until it is all gone, even if your child feels better. Stopping an antibiotic without the caregiver's OK may make it unable to kill the bacteria causing the infection. Tell a caregiver if your child is allergic to antibiotics.
Pain medicine: Caregivers may give medicine to decrease your child's pain. Tell a caregiver if your child's pain does not go away or comes back after taking this medicine. Pain medicine can have side effects. Tell a caregiver if your child has trouble breathing, is very sleepy, or has an upset stomach. Tell a caregiver if your child is allergic to any medicine.

Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.

Activity and rest: Let your child to move or walk as soon as possible after his surgery. This will help prevent further problems such as blood clots forming in his legs. Your child should also rest as much as possible and get plenty of sleep.

Diet: Give your child a good, well-balanced diet to help him feel better, have more energy, and heal faster. If your child is able to eat his regular diet, let him eat a variety of healthy foods. These may include fruits, vegetables, dairy products, or other healthy foods that he usually eats.

Help your child to rest. Your child should rest as much as possible and get plenty of sleep.

Wound care: When you are allowed to give a bath or shower to your child, carefully wash the incisions with soap and water. Afterwards, put on clean, new bandages. Change your child's bandages any time they get wet or dirty. Ask your child's caregivers for more information about wound care.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).
Your child has chills, a cough, or feels weak and achy.
Your child has nausea (upset stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
Your child is irritable and crying more than usual.
Your child's bandage becomes soaked with blood.
Your child's skin is itchy, swollen, or has a rash.
You have any questions or concerns about your child's disease, surgery, medicine, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

Your child feels very full and cannot burp or vomit (throw up).
Your child is unable to have bowel movements.
Your child has severe chest or shoulder pain, or trouble breathing all of a sudden.
Your child is not able to eat or drink, or is urinating less or not at all.
Your child's vomit is greenish in color, looks like coffee grounds, or has blood in it.
Your child's wound or bandage has pus or a bad smell.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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