Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, which is a finger-shaped pouch which projects on the side of the abdomen out of the colon. The appendix does not seem to have any defined purpose.

Appendicitis results in pain in the lower abdomen. But, in most individuals, pain begins around the navel and radiates around that region. As inflammation increases, the pain in appendicitis also becomes acute and increases.

Even though just anyone can develop appendicitis, it is more prevalent in people between the ages of 30 and 10. Standard therapy for the same is surgical removal of the appendix.

Getting a nursing care plan for appendicitis is important to avoid any risks.

Symptoms of appendicitis may include the following

• Sudden pain which starts on the right side of this lower abdomen or Sudden pain which starts around your navel and frequently travels to a lower right stomach
• Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or do other sudden moves
• Nausea and vomiting and no desire to eat
• Low-grade fever that can worsen as the disease progresses
• Constipation or diarrhoea and abdominal bloating

Your pain’s location may vary, depending upon the location of your appendix and your age. For women who have recently given birth, the pain might appear to come from the abdomen since the appendix is larger during pregnancy.

It is not clear what causes appendicitis. Sometimes it can be that something opens the entry of this appendix and, it might have undigested food particles lodged inside it or an upper respiratory tract disease that can create a lymph node inside the walls of the gut to become swollen. The food further putrefies and causes infection and inflammation in the appendix. It also might cause increased stress, pain, fever and causes swelling. Since the cause of appendicitis isn’t entirely understood, there is no way of entirely preventing it.

Complications

Appendicitis may cause the following complications-

• A ruptured appendix – A rupture spreads disease through your abdomen or peritonitis, this illness requires surgery.
• A pocket of pus that forms in the gut – If your appendix bursts, you might create a bit of infection and abscess. By putting a tube through your gut wall typically, the abscess drains. The tube is left in position for fourteen days, and you are given antibiotics to clear the infection.

Half of the patients with appendicitis do not display the symptoms, and this may make it difficult to diagnose timely. For instance, the pain is not found in the stomach of those that have this problem until it becomes full-blown and the patient is brought into an emergency.

Other ailments that could have symptoms that are quite similar are as follows

• Gastroenteritis
• Urinary tract disease
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Crohn’s disease
• Kidney stones

The appendix, a thin tube about four inches long, is usually located in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen, near the right hip bone and the base of the appendix is located 2 cm beneath the ileocecal valve separating the large intestine from the small intestine.

The patient will be examined by a physician and asked some questions. They may apply some pressure to the area to find out whether the pain is worsened by it. They will diagnose appendicitis if the physician detects symptoms. Otherwise, further evaluations will be arranged.

Diagnostic Tests include

• Blood tests, to test for infection
• MRI, CT, or ultrasound scanning, to determine if the appendix is inflamed
• urine tests, to identify a bladder or a kidney disease

Your appendix may have to be surgically removed in case you have appendicitis.

Removal of this appendix, called appendicitis or an appendicectomy, is among the most common surgeries and has the highest success rate. It is most commonly completed as keyhole or laparoscopic surgery where tiny cuts are made allowing instruments to be sent into the abdomen. The open surgery, where there is a bigger cut made in the abdomen, is utilized only if the appendix has burst or there are accessibility issues.

It requires a few weeks for a complete recovery following appendix removal. After undergoing surgery, strenuous actions must be avoided.

• Sit in semi-Fowler’s posture
• This positioning allows gravity to help by reducing abdominal strain and that alleviates discomfort

Monitor Lab Results

Abnormal labs are signs of disease progression. Monitor for the following

• CRP # 1 mg/dL – Signals inflammation. Very substantial levels may signal gangrene
• WBC p 10,500 – Signals infection
• Neutrophils >75 percent

Monitor vital signs

• Fever, chills and diaphoresis are indications of disease, indicating sepsis, abscess or peritonitis
• Hypotension with tachycardia can indicate dehydration where nausea exists, or nausea is severe
• Prep for surgery to remove the appendix
• Initiate IV access
• Informed consent obtained
• Give post-op care following an appendectomy
• Maintain NPO position to drain gastric contents and stay in NPO post-surgery until gag reflex has returned to decrease the danger of aspiration. NPO or nothing by mouth is a medical instruction to withhold food and fluids through the mouth. Also known as nil per os (NPO), a Latin phrase meaning “nothing through the mouth”
• Once gastric contents are drained, clear fluids, advance diet as tolerated
• Evaluate and manage pain
• Notice location, seriousness and quality of pain along with some other changes in features that might signify abscess or peritonitis
• Administer analgesics as dictated for pain control
• Place ice pack help in pain relief – avoid using heat as it might cause the appendix to rupture
• Boost abdominal splinting or abdominal support

Instruct the individual on ways to safeguard abdomen before and the following surgery by splinting using a cushion – this will assist in pain management and protect against dehiscence or the splitting or bursting open of the incision.

The top exercises following appendicitis are done to help reunite your body to a wholesome condition and enhance the range of movement in limbs which might have atrophy if not moved. Odds are you will have the ability to work out at full strength if you haven’t undergone an appendectomy. Some exercises, in particular, can help you increase strength, if you needed surgery, building up your workout regimen.

Post-surgery bed exercises

Odds are you will probably be in bed for a small time when an appendicitis has been performed on you. Ask your physician before trying any exercises during/after this. If you have the go-ahead from the doctor, starting off with leg pumps and lifts can help improve flow and blood circulation in the lower parts of the body. In addition, bed exercises may help lessen the possibility of blood clots forming in your extremities.

Short Walks

You must start your post-appendicitis workout regimen with brief walks. Through those walks, be conscious of posture and your gait and speed, trying to maintain weight. Quit walking, if tired and don’t push yourself to exercise for long intervals.

Passive Abdominal Exercise

After a few weeks of healing, performing basic exercise can help strengthen your waist to more powerful. Begin on the mattress by dangling your toes off the bed. With centre tightened and your back straight, slowly lift your thighs until they are parallel with the ground. Hold this posture for many moments before lowering your legs straight back. Repeat for 10 – 12 times.

Swimming

Swimming is a low impact exercise that does not put any pressure on your joints. Begin with laps, employing a swimming method to place minimum strain on your muscles, after recovering from appendicitis. Quit swimming if you feel pain or some tension in your lower abdominal area. As your strength increases, raise the amount and change. However, please start swimming or even pool bath, water tub bath only when your external wounds are totally healed and not susceptible to any infection.

As the patient’s recovery is ensured by postoperative nursing care plan for appendicitis, postoperative nursing care for appendicitis is a vital element of the curing process. Post-operative nursing care for appendicitis for individuals might be easy and may be short term or long term or may entail procedure for a few.

In case of long term post-operative care, a patient is much better off within the warmth or home rather than in a hospital. Aiding this kind of care is something that we provide from our home nursing care plan for appendicitis services. As a part of our services, our group of nurses and other caregivers, would come and see you and offer care. In some cases, the nurse may remain with the individual for 24×7 monitoring and attention.

Therefore, if you require nursing care in your home, look no further and trust your loved ones’ care to Care24 and we guarantee a satisfactory and quick recovery of the individual in the most effective and fastest way possible.