Headline on Yahoo! today: "Jimmy Kimmel undergoes emergency appendectomy" Whenever someone has to have their appendix removed, isn't always an emergency? Would someone ever have an elective appendectomy? I've had my appendix out too, and yes, it was an emergency. So why do we have to always describe this operation like that?
2007-06-21 09:52:49 · 5 answers · asked by Mama Gretch 6 in Health ➔ Other - Health
Interesting answer from the RN, but it's not true that only surgery for a burst appendix qualifies as an emergency, right? Myself, and others I know, did not have a burst appendix, yet had emergency surgery...
2007-06-21 10:01:41 · update #1
If an appendix is "hot" it can rupture and eventually cause death if untreated. I have never seen an elective appendectomy in my 10 years of nursing, nor have I heard of one. Unless it is being removed during a bowel resection, (which isn't usually elective either), it would be an emergency.
2007-06-21 09:59:32 · answer #1 · answered by Sara 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are rare occasions when the appendix is removed routinely during an abdominal operation, just as a safeguard to prevent problems in the future. Most folks who are not bothered with their appendix, don't usually elect to have it taken out, so this particular surgery is generally performed only when it becomes inflamed, because if it bursts, it can cause a life-threatening condition called peritonitis. I've often wondered why people have an appendix anyway. It doesn't seem to serve any useful purpose. Thanks for your interesting question.
2007-06-21 17:00:15 · answer #2 · answered by gldjns 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
often when an appendix becomes inflammed, a doctor will treat the client with antibiotics for several weeks before doing surgery, to reduce risk of peritonitis and minimize inflammation. That is a planned appendectomy as opposed to an emergency appendectomy which is done if the appendix has ruptured.
2007-06-21 16:57:30 · answer #3 · answered by essentiallysolo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea.......they take it out if they are doing anything near the area........happened to my daughter......14.........made me very upset...they didn't even tell me until it was over, she was not scheduled for surgery.....but had problems with her ovaries.....the law says they can.......since science believes, there is no purpose for it.....my question is.........If there is no purpose for it......why does it collect poisons..like the tonsils do.......and what happens to the poison......if it is not there
2007-06-21 17:08:59 · answer #4 · answered by bandit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question!
I seriously have no idea...
Maybe bcz not everyone knows about it...
EDIT:
Huh... I guess the nurse above just answered it...
Well... that was good to know...
2007-06-21 16:58:01 · answer #5 · answered by Samantha 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋