Appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the appendix, which is a thin pouch attached to the large intestine. The most common reason for an appendectomy is appendicitis, which is an infection of the appendix. If left untreated, the appendix can burst, leading to a medical emergency. There are two types of surgery to remove the appendix: open appendectomy and laparoscopic appendectomy.
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Open Appendectomy: A cut or incision about 2 to 4 inches long is made in the lower right-hand side of the belly or abdomen. The appendix is taken out through the incision.
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Laparoscopic Appendectomy: This method is less invasive and involves making one to three tiny cuts in the abdomen. A long, thin tube called a laparoscope is put into one of the incisions. It has a tiny video camera and surgical tools. The surgeon looks at a TV monitor to see inside the abdomen and guide the tools. The appendix is removed through one of the incisions.
If the appendix has burst or a pocket of infection has formed, the abdomen may be washed out during surgery, and a small tube may be left in the belly area to help drain out fluids or pus. The surgery is usually done under general anesthesia, which means the patient is asleep and does not feel any pain during the procedure. Delaying the operation increases the risk of suffering a ruptured appendix, so surgery is the preferred treatment for appendicitis.
