Recurrence of appendicitis after surgery: possible or not?

For people who have had appendicitis, you may feel reassured because you believe it is unlikely that the appendix will recur.

Well, this disease actually occurs due to something that clogs this part of the intestine and then inflammation occurs. Appendicitis can also result from a bacterial infection. So, usually appendicitis will be treated by surgery and removing the inflamed part of the intestine.

Then, is it possible for the appendix to recur after surgery? What to do when the appendix recurs?

There is still a chance that the appendix will recur after surgery

An infected and inflamed appendix will be cut and removed. This is so that there are no more health problems later. This medical procedure is called an appendectomy, which is the removal of the appendix.

Basically, the chance for appendicitis to recur is quite small because that part of the intestine has been removed from the body. However, that does not mean there are absolutely no possibilities. In fact, this condition is one of the complications that can arise after a successful appendectomy. However, it happens very rarely.

If after an appendectomy the pain doesn't go away or you feel stomach pain again after a while, don't ignore it. This could be caused by recurrent inflammation. Appendicitis can even recur when someone has had surgery a few years ago.

What causes appendicitis to recur, even after surgery?

In fact, until now the experts do not know the exact cause of recurrent appendicitis. There are several things that may cause appendicitis to recur and make you experience pain in the lower right abdomen.

A study conducted in 2013 revealed that the chance that the appendix would recur could be due to the fact that during the operation there was a part of the appendix that was still left behind. Another study also stated the same thing. If the next infection occurs at the surgery site, it can be caused because there is still a part of the appendix that remains about 3-5 millimeters.

When appendicitis recurs, it will usually be treated by performing another operation. This is why when you feel pain like appendicitis some time ago, immediately consult a doctor.

How to prevent appendicitis from recurring?

Because it is not certain what causes this, in fact there are no specific provisions on how to prevent this condition. However, you can do the following things to avoid complications after having an appendectomy for the first time.

• Continue to eat foods recommended by doctors and avoid foods that are taboo.
• After a successful operation, eat more fiber to help improve digestion.
• Make sure your body is not dehydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day.
• Take good care of scars. If you are allowed to go home a day or two after the operation, then you should go home with the surgical wound still 'wet'. Usually the surgical wound takes 2-3 weeks after surgery. Frequently consult and have your wound checked by a doctor.
• Ask your doctor when you can resume physical activity. Each person has a different length of time. However, the average person who has had an appendectomy needs at least 4 weeks to recover.

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