Mastectomy

The appendix is a finger-sized pouch that’s extended from the end of the colon on the lower right side of the abdomen. In the case of appendicitis , there’s a high probability that it may burst and cause dangerous complications, like the spread of the inflammation to the abdomen cavity, leading to peritonitis, and it might transfer to the blood, causing sepsis, which is a life-threatening condition. That’s why appendicitis is considered an emergency that requires appendectomy. In some cases, like mild appendicitis or people who aren’t eligible for surgery, the appendix might not be removed. However, the possibility of the inflammation returning remains, therefore, the best solution is appendectomy if there’s a possibility that it might burst. Symptoms of appendicitis include: sudden pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, or the pain might start from around the belly button and transfer to the lower right side, increased pain when coughing and walking, nausea, vomiting, reduced appetite, a mild fever that increases as the case worsens, diarrhea or constipation, and belly bloating. If these symptoms manifest, you must call a doctor or go to the hospital immediately before the appendix bursts (it might burst within 36 hours after the start of the symptoms). Appendectomy is considered the safest management for appendicitis in children and adults, and it could be performed in two methods: a surgical abdomen incision (open surgery), or laparoscopically (it’s done by making small incisions and inserting the camera and required tools through them). Either way, the patient is given general anesthesia. Usually, an appendectomy takes about an hour. In the case of laparoscopic appendectomy, the patient can go home on the same day, while in open surgery, the patient needs to stay in the hospital for a few days.

In liver transplant, a healthy liver is transplanted in the place of another one in conditions that cause the liver to fail and not be able to function properly. A liver transplant can be done from a dead person, or a part of a liver from a living donor can be transplanted because the liver can regrow to its normal size in both the donor and the recipient. Liver transplant is used in the cases where all other treatment didn’t work, and most of these cases are liver acute or chronic liver failure and liver cancer. In the case of a liver transplant from a dead person, the liver must be transplanted immediately; therefore, when available, the patient is prepared immediately for the liver transplant, while in the case of a living-liver donor, the surgery is planned previously. The liver transplant procedure is done under general anesthesia, and it usually takes 6-12 hours, depending on the case. The patient must stay in the hospital for about two weeks, and in the case of a living-liver transplant, the donor must stay in the hospital for a few days as well.

In splenectomy, the spleen is removed completely, and it’s a fist-sized organ that’s located in the upper right part of the abdomen and has an important role in producing white blood cells, which are a part of the immune system in the body. Splenectomy is done in several cases, such as ruptured spleen (which might lead to severe and unstoppable internal bleeding), enlarged spleen, cancer, blood disorders (such as polycythemia vera , sickle cell anemia , idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, thalassemia, and others), some infections, and hypersplenism. Spleen removal surgery is done in these conditions and other ones if other treatments didn’t work. Splenectomy might be done by using open surgery (making a surgical incision) or endoscopic surgery , depending on the case. Splenectomy surgery is done under general anesthesia, and it might take up to three hours or more, depending on the case. The patient can return home on the same day or the next day in the case of an endoscopic surgery, while in open surgery, the patient must stay in the hospital for 2-6 days.

Cholecystectomy is done in many conditions in which the downsides of gallbladder removal are better than the ones of the treatment, and the most important reason for cholecystectomy is gallstones . The gallbladder is also removed in cases of severe inflammation and cancer. The gallbladder is located in the upper right side of the abdomen under the liver, and it collects and stores a part of the bile (digestive fluids produced from the liver) until being used from the small intestines. When the gallbladder is removed, the bile will only flow to the intestines without being stored; therefore, gallbladder removal surgery doesn’t affect the normal patient’s life. Cholecystectomy can be done by using an open surgery (surgical incision) or endoscopic surgery , and the patient is under general anesthesia. Cholecystectomy usually takes 60-90 minutes in endoscopic surgery, and the patient can return home on the same day, or one or two hours in open surgery, and the patient must stay in the hospital for a few days.