Once the diagnosis of appendicitis is made, the surgeon will explain the surgery in detail, including a description of the procedure, the Risks of Surgery and a typical recovery from surgery. The staff will also initiate an IV and may shave the abdomen of male patients to allow for a cleaner incision.
If the patient has been suffering from nausea and vomiting, which is common with appendicitis, medication will be given to treat the symptoms. Pain medication can also be given, along with IV fluids if the patient is dehydrated. Antibiotics may be initiated prior to the surgery, or may be started at the end of the procedure.
The patient will then be transported to the operating room, and assisted onto the operating table, where the staff will prepare the patient’s skin for surgery. The skin is swabbed with a solution that kills germs to help prevent infections along the incision. Once the skin is prepared for surgery, the staff will cover the patient with sterile drapes to keep the area as clean as possible during the procedure.
