Treatment plans may include medication only or surgery with medication
The onset ofappendicitisis an urgent problem that needs treatment.
Whether you receive surgery (anappendectomy) or not, medication will be administered during treatment.
This article describes how appendicitis medication can be taken alone or with surgery to treat a diseased appendix.
Shana Novak / Getty Images
Shana Novak / Getty Images
Is There a Gold Standard for Appendicitis Treatment?
It may also benefit older people for whom surgery carries a higher risk of potential complications.
For Pain
Appendicitis symptoms of pain and infection last until the appendicitis is treated or surgically removed.
Because they are highly addictive, they are taken for limited periods to avoid developing physical dependence.
For Infection
Appendicitis occurs due to an appendix obstruction, leading to bacterial overgrowth.
Antibiotics treat infections that are confined to the appendix before the appendix ruptures and then spread beyond the organ.
This large, randomized trial compared a 10-day course of antibiotic therapy with appendectomy at 25 U.S. centers.
At 90 days, 30% of participants treated with antibiotics had undergone an appendectomy.
Complicated appendicitis describes a condition in which the appendix is perforated or an abscess is present.
If the abscess bursts, there is a risk ofperitonitis.
An appendectomy can be performed using open surgery orlaparoscopy.General anesthesiais used during both types of procedures.
Whether your appendectomy is by open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, post-operative pain is common.
Depending on your condition, you may start with broad-spectrum antibiotics before your surgery.
Research has indicated that preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis is effective in decreasing wound infection and abscesses.
The most common antibiotics for this are cephalosporin and imidazole derivatives.
These medicationsusually administered intravenouslyinclude:
For non-perforated appendicitis, preoperative antibiotic treatment is sufficient.
These reactions can range in severity and frequency.
Use the lowest dose for the shortest period possible for the best results.
Is There a ‘Best’ Antibiotic for Appendicitis?
There isn’t one “best” antibiotic for appendicitis.
Researchers who examined antibiotic therapy at 25 U.S. centers reported that antibiotics were not standardized.
Without the right treatment, the damaged organ can rupture and spread germs into your stomach.
The result can cause internal damage and threaten your life.
The problem can be treated with antibiotics or surgery, called an appendectomy, to remove the damaged organ.
Both options use drugs to prevent the spread of disease and reduce pain.
The treatment you receive and the drugs you take can vary.
The right treatment can solve the problem and reduce the risk of recurrence.
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