Surgical Emergencies

Types of surgical emergencies may stem from the following:

• Traumatic injuries: Traumatic injuries may include severe injuries to the limbs or internal organs.
• Injuries to the internal organs: There are severe types of injuries, such as acute appendicitis, intestinal blockages, complications from peptic ulcers and pelvic infections.
• Pancreatitis is not just a health condition; it is a potentially life-threatening situation caused by an inflamed pancreas, a vital organ that secretes hormones and digestive enzymes. It can be acute or chronic, but in either case, it requires immediate medical intervention.

What types of surgical procedures do you perform?

Appendectomy: This is the surgical resection of the appendix, a tiny organ in the lower right-hand quadrant that becomes inflamed when infected. Appendicitis, which arises from an inflamed, swollen appendix, is a severe condition that can become life-threatening.

An appendectomy can, therefore, be done both openly and laparoscopically. Thus, an open appendectomy entails creating a much larger incision in the lower right-hand quadrant of the abdomen and removing the appendix through this cut.

A laparoscopic appendectomy involves removing the appendix through several tiny incisions over the abdomen. The benefits of a laparoscopic appendectomy are vast, with reduced postoperative pain, limited time spent in the hospital, a faster return to daily activities, a smooth return to bowel movement and a much smaller, less noticeable scar.

• Large bowel obstruction can cause a severe, detrimental condition that could potentially cause intestinal perforation. Intestinal perforation, a hole in the digestive tract (bowel wall), is usually treated with surgery and antibiotics.
• A strangulated hernia is a surgical emergency where a portion of the intestine or tissue becomes trapped in a hernia defect, cutting off its blood supply. Immediate intervention is required to prevent tissue death (necrosis) and life-threatening complications such as sepsis.
• Perforated peptic ulcers can be treated both operatively and non-operatively, depending on the severity.