If you have appendicitis, you’ll most likely need an appendectomy to treat it. That means your appendix will be removed in surgery. Appendectomy is an emergency procedure to prevent the dangerous complications of appendicitis. There are two kinds of appendectomy surgeries: laparoscopic and open. Your surgeon will determine the best type for you.
An appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your appendix. Appendectomy is the standard surgical treatment for appendicitis, a painful inflammation of the appendix. Because an inflamed appendix has the potential to rupture, appendicitis is considered a medical emergency. A ruptured appendix can be very dangerous. A healthy appendix, on the other hand, doesn’t appear to have any essential function. If you have to have your appendix removed, you won’t miss it.
Your appendix is a small, tubular pouch that protrudes from the bottom of your colon, like a little tail. It’s about the length of your pointer finger. It’s located on the lower right side of your abdomen. (If you have appendicitis, you’ll feel the painful spot acutely.) Scientists aren’t sure if your appendix serves any purpose at all. If it does, it’s a small one. No one has ever observed any consequence from removing it.
Because it’s so small, your appendix swells quickly with inflammation and doesn’t take much to burst. A burst appendix can spread infectious agents throughout your abdominal cavity, leading to peritonitis (inflammation in your abdominal lining). If the infection spreads to your bloodstream, it can lead to sepsis, a serious systemic illness. Sepsis can be life-threatening. Your appendix can rupture within 36 hours of your first symptoms of appendicitis, so when you seek treatment, time is of the essence.
In most cases, appendectomy is considered the safest treatment for appendicitis. There are a few exceptions — for example, some people might be unfit for surgery. Some people might respond to antibiotics alone if their appendicitis is uncomplicated and caught early enough. These people are at risk of recurrent appendicitis, however. Ultimately, the risk of rupture is much greater than the low risk associated with the surgery. If your appendix is inflamed enough to rupture, it’s safest to remove it.
Appendectomy has been the standard treatment for appendicitis for 120 years.