Different Types of Gastric Surgery

What Is Laparotomy? 

A laparotomy is a surgical procedure in which the surgeon makes an incision through the abdominal wall in order to reach the abdominal cavity. This form of surgery is generally exploratory in nature and the incision is generally a large one. Doctors tend to recommend a laparotomy in instances when clinical diagnostic methods are insufficient to provide information about the causes of acute abdominal pain in a patient. In such cases, it generally confirms the diagnosis. It is also done in cases when the patient has a malignant tumor in the abdomen. A laparotomy is also generally required when the patient has suffered a wound to the abdominal area. Sometimes, a surgeon might conduct a laparotomy in order to offer specific treatment to the patient.

What Is Appendectomy? 

An appendectomy is a surgery conducted in order to remove the vermiform appendix. This surgery is usually done when the appendix is inflamed or infected and if there is a danger that it will burst. This surgical procedure is done under general anesthesia because it involves making an incision in the lower right side wall of the abdomen. An appendectomy is a very important procedure because there is no other way of treating an infected or inflamed appendix. It is often done as an emergency procedure because the symptoms of appendicitis appear very quickly and also because a ruptured appendix is a life-threatening condition because of the large amount of infectious material that it releases into the bloodstream and abdomen. The surgery is an easy one but there are some chances of complications.

What Is Appendicitis? 

Appendicitis is a painful and potentially dangerous condition caused by the inflammation of the vermiform appendix, a very small vestigial organ. The reasons for the inflammation vary from accumulation of thick mucus to the presence of hardened stool. The blockage of the appendix results in bacterial infection of the walls of the appendix. The most common symptom of appendicitis is acute abdominal pain that is very diffuse. The next stage is the inflammation of the abdominal lining called peritoneum. Other symptoms of appendicitis include nausea and vomiting. The inflamed appendix is in danger of rupturing, in which case the health of the patient is compromised. The only treatment for appendicitis is to surgically remove it via a surgery called appendectomy since it rarely responds to medication.

What Is Gastric Endoscopy? 

Gastric endoscopy is a medical procedure whereby the doctor is able to view the inside lining of the patient's digestive tract. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed with the aid of a highly flexible fiber optic tube that has a camera at the end that is inserted into the body. The other end of the tube has an eyepiece that enables the doctor to view the digestive tract easily or it can also be connected to a TV monitor. Since a gastric endoscopy does not require a large incision, it is generally done under local anesthesia. It is necessary because certain problems do not show up on conventional imaging reports. There have been instances of people suffering complications after a gastric endoscopy but these problems are rare.