There is a small, finger-shaped, pouch-like organ made up of intestinal tissue located between the small intestine and the colon known as the Appendix. When this appendix becomes infected, inflamed, or clogged, it is a medical condition known as Appendicitis. Appendicitis can cause intense pain in the abdomen. When the feces pass through the large intestine, sometimes it clogs the appendix which can cause infection. As the infection increases, it will cause the appendix to swell and lead to inflammation. Sometimes, the swelling increases and can result in the bursting of the appendix which is a medical emergency. Because of the busted appendix, the infection can then spread into the bloodstream which may lead to major complications. The standard treatment for this condition is surgical removal of appendix. The function of the appendix is unknown and it is not an essential organ. So, removing it does not cause any other problems in the body.
Many African people from countries like Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania visit India for the appendicitis operation as the cost of the treatment is much lower than many other countries. The Indian hospitals have the most updated infrastructure and extremely knowledgeable doctors. Also, the surgeons in Indian hospitals have undergone training in global institutes which helps to gain a vast knowledge in their own fields. The average cost of appendicitis in India starts from USD 1,500 and can go up to USD 2,000. The cost for the same in the USA ranges from USD 5,035 to USD 7,000.
The very initial symptoms of an infected appendix are abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and nausea. First, the pain starts in the abdomen around the belly button. Then the pain increases and nausea develops. Then after a few hours, the pain starts in the lower right abdomen. Besides these, there are other appendicitis symptoms that you might have such as:
If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should immediately consult your healthcare provider and start the treatment procedures.
The most common appendicitis cause is an infection caused by bacteria. However, sometimes there may be other causes of the condition. Listed below are the possible appendicitis causes.
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms first. And then he/she may examine your abdomen to determine whether you have appendicitis or not. Further, your doctor will recommend you have some tests done before confirming the condition. Following are the tests that your physicians perform.
■ A physical examination: Your doctor may apply gentle pressure on your abdomen, mostly on the site where you have pain. When he/she releases the pressure, the pain in the abdomen gets worse. This can happen due to an inflammation in the abdomen. Your doctor may also check the stiffness of your belly, and whether you can flex/move your abdomen muscles.
■ Blood Test: A blood test is done to check if you have a high WBC count. When there is an infection in the body, in order to fight against that infection, the body’s immune system over-activates and produces a large number of WBCs.
■ Urine Test: To confirm that there are no other problems that are causing the pain and discomfort in the abdomen such as kidney stones, or urinary tract infection, the urinalysis is necessary.
■ Imaging Tests: When all the above tests indicate the signs of Appendicitis, your doctor may run an imaging test to confirm the condition. The tests include an X-ray of the abdomen, Ultrasound of the abdomen, MRI, or CT scan.
The total cost of appendix treatment depends on the City and hospital where you are taking your treatment, the severity of your condition, and the charges of your surgeon along with the medications and stay. However, the average cost of an Open Appendectomy and the average cost of a Laparoscopic Appendectomy in India ranges between USD 1,500 to USD 2,000. This cost is much less than its cost in any other country. Contact CureIndia to know the full details on operation procedures, cost, and stay duration.
Treatment Name | Cost in USA | Cost in Thailand | Cost in India |
---|---|---|---|
Appendix Surgery | $5,000-$7,000 | $3,000 - $4,000 | $1,500 - $2,000 |
Dr. Vicky Kuldeep is the top General and Laparoscopic Surgeon in Delhi NCR. He has expertise in hemorrhoids surgery, appendix surgery, fistula surgery, etc.
Dr. Sumeet Shah is a general surgeon who has expertise in laparoscopic, bariatric and robotic surgeries.
Dr. Vinay Kumar Shaw is a specialist for fistula, gallstone surgery, hernia, bariatric, laser piles, laparoscopic and GI surgery. He has treated more than 5000 cases successfully.
Dr. Arvind Kumar is a laparoscopic and general surgeon in India. He is a specialist in procedures such as colectomy, cystectomy, gastrectomy, and splenectomy.
Dr. Nikhil Narain is an expert general Surgeon, proctologist, and laparoscopic surgeon. He is a specialist in the fissure, fistula, appendix, and hemorrhoid treatment.
If you are diagnosed with appendicitis, then it is important to receive the treatment as soon as possible. The removal of the appendix which is known as appendectomy or appendicectomy is the preferred treatment. These are the surgeries to remove the appendix from the body. If the treatment is not done on time, it can cause the appendix to rupture. The ruptured appendix spreads the infection through the abdomen and causes infection in the lining of the abdominal cavity, a condition known as Peritonitis. So, it is important to start the treatment as soon as possible. Following are the treatments for the damaged appendix.
Your doctor may prescribe you medications if your condition is mild and to check if your condition improves with medications alone. These medications are antibiotics. Your doctor may recommend this approach if you have any other medical conditions or risk factors. However, the appendicitis often reoccurs if the appendix is not removed. So it is a better option to remove the appendix. The medicines are also prescribed as preventative measures to provide treatment before your surgery.
Once your doctor has diagnosed you with appendicitis, it is important to remove the appendix within 24 hours. If not done so, your appendix can explode within 36 hours. The exploded appendix spreads the infection in the abdomen and causes other life-threatening conditions. So, it is important to prevent that and perform the surgery right away. There are two types of surgery available for appendix removal. They are mentioned below:
It is a minimally invasive procedure which means it is performed with minimal incision. Before starting the procedure, you will be given general anesthesia. During this procedure, a few small incisions are made in the abdomen. Then a laparoscope is inserted through that cut. A laparoscope is an instrument that is a small tube and has a camera and light on the tip so that the doctor can visualize and perform the procedure. With the small surgical equipment, the doctor removes the appendix and closes the incisions with stitches.
Under certain circumstances when the appendix has already busted, laparoscopic surgery is not recommended and requires open appendectomy. In this procedure, you will be unconscious under anesthesia. During this procedure, your surgeon makes one large incision on the lower right abdomen. Your surgeon then removes the appendix and cleans the abdominal cavity as the ruptured appendix might have spread the infection. Then the surgeon closes the incision with stitches.
The recovery after appendectomy depends on the types of surgery done and the overall health of the patient. If the laparoscopic surgery is done, then the recovery time is short as compared to the open surgery. If everything seems fine, then you will be discharged from the hospital within 24 hours. However, if the surgery is complicated, you may need to stay in the hospital for a week before going home. For a few days after the surgery, you might feel little pain and discomfort. Doctors will prescribe you painkillers for that. Your doctor will give you instructions about how to take care of the wound, what you should avoid, and what activities you can do. Follow your doctor’s advice and you will be completely recovered within 4 to 6 weeks.
The function of the appendix is not known. It is better to get rid of it if you have an infection whether it is mild or severe because a mild infection of the appendix can be treated with medicines but there are more chances of it reoccurring. So, it is better to remove the appendix to avoid any future complications. You can get the best treatment for appendectomy in India at a much lower cost than the rest of the world. If you are thinking about visiting any country for your treatment, do consider India.