The road to recovery from appendicitis: practical nursing can help you!

Appendicitis is a common disease that has a great impact on our lives. If not treated in time, this disease may lead to serious consequences such as appendicitis perforation, systemic infection, shock, liver abscess, and even endanger the patient's life. So, what exactly is appendicitis? How to take care of it? This article will take you to find out!

The appendix is ​​located at the end of the cecum. It is usually a tubular structure about 5 to 10 cm long, and its shape is similar to a worm-like appendage the size of a little finger. Many people have a cognitive misunderstanding that the appendix is ​​a "useless" organ. In fact, it is not. After research, it has been found that the appendix has certain immune functions. There is abundant lymphoid tissue in the wall of the appendix, which can produce lymphocytes and antibodies, and has a certain effect on preventing viral infections.

Appendicitis is a very common surgical acute abdomen, accounting for about 10%-15% of inpatients in general surgery departments of general hospitals. When the appendix becomes inflamed, it is usually caused by a blockage in the appendix. Appendicitis is usually caused by a blockage in the appendix tube due to stool, swollen lymphatic tissue, bacterial infection, or tumors in the appendix. The blockage causes the pressure in the appendix to increase, bacteria to multiply, and eventually the appendix becomes inflamed. Appendicitis can occur at any age, but is more common in young people between the ages of 10 and 30.

Appendicitis care tips :

1. Observation and recording

Pain management: Ask patients about their pain regularly and use a pain score card to record the degree of pain. Give analgesics according to the doctor's instructions and observe the effects of the drugs.

Temperature monitoring: Measure and record body temperature every four hours, pay attention to fever, and detect signs of infection in a timely manner.

Abdominal observation: Regularly check the patient's abdominal swelling, tenderness, and rebound pain, and record changes in bowel sounds.

2. Wound Care

Aseptic operation: When changing the dressing, ensure the operation is aseptic to avoid wound infection. Before starting the operation, always wash your hands thoroughly, wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, and make sure to clean your nails and wrists. Put on sterile gloves and ensure that your hands are completely covered. Open the sterile package, ensure that the items are in a sterile environment, select the appropriate size and type of sterile gauze or dressing, and then use sterile saline or an appropriate cleanser to gently clean the skin around the wound. Be careful not to pour any liquid on the wound. If necessary, you can use a sterile cotton ball or sterile gauze to gently wipe the wound. Gently peel off the old dressing from the wound to avoid unnecessary friction or pulling on the wound. If the dressing is adhered to the wound, you can soak the dressing with saline to make it easier to remove. Finally, put a new sterile gauze or dressing on the wound to ensure complete coverage. After completing the dressing change, wash your hands again and take off your gloves.

Educate the patient: Explain to the patient how to keep the wound clean and dry, and instruct him/her on appropriate activities to avoid wound dehiscence.

3. Convalescent care

Medication management: Take antibiotics and other medications, such as painkillers, as prescribed and recommended by your doctor. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions and visit your doctor regularly during recovery to ensure that your doctor can monitor and adjust your treatment plan in a timely manner.

Early mobilization: Patients are encouraged to start bedside activities within 24 hours after surgery, such as turning over, sitting up, etc.

Gradual exercise: As recovery progresses, guide the patient to gradually increase activity, such as short walks.

Breathing exercises: Patients are taught deep breathing and coughing exercises to prevent lung complications.

Tips for nursing work :

1. Time management skills

Priority List: Make a to-do list at the start of each day and sort it by importance and urgency to ensure that the most critical work is completed first.

Block work method: Divide work into small modules of 30 minutes to 1 hour, focus on a single task, reduce interruptions and improve efficiency.

2. Patient communication skills

The art of listening: Listen patiently to what the patient says without interrupting, and use body language (such as nodding) to show that you are listening carefully.

Speak Clearly: Communicate with patients using simple, non-medical terms to ensure information is conveyed clearly and is easy to understand.

3. Medication management tips

Double check: Verify patient identity and physician orders at least twice before administering medication to avoid medical errors.

Organize the medicine cart: Keep the medicine cart clean and orderly, and place the medicines by category to facilitate quick finding of the required medicines.

4. Medical record keeping skills

Record promptly: Whenever possible, record things as soon as they happen to reduce the possibility of forgetfulness or erroneous information.

Be concise: Use clear and concise language to record, focus on key information, and avoid lengthy and unnecessary words.

Treatment for appendicitis generally includes antibiotic treatment and surgical removal of the appendix. In most cases, acute appendicitis requires surgical removal. Surgical removal of the appendix is ​​called appendectomy. This is because once the appendix becomes inflamed, if it is not treated in time, it may develop into appendiceal perforation or appendiceal abscess, which can lead to more serious complications and even threaten life. For some special cases (such as patients who are not suitable for surgery or have mild conditions) or specific populations (such as children and elderly patients), conservative treatment may be chosen, that is, antibiotic treatment to control inflammation. In this case, the doctor will closely monitor the patient's condition and adjust the treatment plan if necessary.

In short, appendicitis care is very important. Patients should follow the doctor's advice and have regular follow-up visits to maximize successful recovery and prevent recurrence. The views in this article are personal. If you suspect you have appendicitis, please seek medical attention in a timely manner and obtain guidance and treatment from professional doctors. (Li Qingju, Lingshou County People's Hospital, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)