Appendectomy

Appendectomy

The appendix is a thin, small, finger-shaped sack that is attached to the large intestines. The purpose of the appendix is unknown. For most people, the appendix doesn’t pose any problems. About 8% of people will get appendicitis.

Appendicitis is an infection of the appendix. The only treatment for appendicitis is an appendectomy. An appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the appendix. If the appendectomy is not done immediately, the infected appendix may rupture, causing the infection to spill into the abdominal cavity. This can be fatal.

The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. The pain is typically felt on the lower right side of the abdomen. The pain may begin near the naval. The pain worsens with movement, cough, or laughter. It may cause a fever and nausea.

A doctor may use an ultrasound or CT scan of the abdomen to diagnose appendicitis. If it is appendicitis, an appendectomy will be done. An appendectomy may be laparoscopic or traditional. Laparoscopic surgery uses a few small incisions. Traditional surgery requires one larger incision. Doctors may recommend an appendectomy even if they aren’t sure if the patient has appendicitis. This is to avoid the risk of a ruptured appendix.