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Appendectomy

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What is Appendectomy?

An appendectomy is a common emergency surgery to remove the appendix. This procedure is the cure for appendicitis, which is an infection of the appendix. If not treated, your appendix can burst (rupture). This is a medical emergency.

The appendix is a thin pouch that is attached to the large intestine. It sits in the lower right part of your belly.

What Are the Types of Appendectomies?

There are two types of surgery to remove the appendix:

Open appendectomy — The appendix is removed through a cut about 2 to 4 inches long in the lower right-hand side of your belly.
Laparoscopic appendectomy — The appendix is removed through a small cut in the lower right-hand side of your belly, using a long, thin tube called a laparoscope.

A laparoscopic appendectomy may cause less pain and scarring than an open appendectomy. For either type of surgery, the scar is often hard to see once it has healed.

What Are the Risks of an Appendectomy?

Both types of surgery have low risk for complications, but include:

Bleeding
Wound infection
Infection, redness, swelling inside the belly (peritonitis) that can occur if the appendix bursts during surgery
Blocked bowels
Injury to nearby organs

You may have other risks that are unique to you. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before surgery.

UR Medicine's Approach

We offer state-of-the-art services provided by nationally known physicians with the most experience and training in the Rochester metropolitan area and surrounding region. You will see many different people from the surgical team during your hospital stay. Your providers will work together to check your condition and plan the best steps towards returning your body to its normal state.

What Happens Before an Appendectomy?

You will receive antibiotics, fluids, and blood thinner medicine through an intravenous line (IV) before surgery. You will receive non-narcotic medicine to control pain, but stronger medicine is available if needed.

Our skilled nurses will monitor you and check your blood sugar before surgery. They will be available to help you with anything you need.

What Is Recovery like for an Appendectomy?

After surgery, you will start eating and drinking with small amounts of liquid. Your IV will be removed, but you may still receive pain medicine you can swallow. Our goal is to have you walking soon after the surgery and recovering enough to leave the hospital after a few hours.

At home, you can resume your normal diet, though it is common to not feel hungry and have less energy as you recover. You can shower, but do not soak in a bathtub or pool. Be sure to stay hydrated and active, slowly increasing your activity. Your surgeon will give you detailed instructions as to when you can resume intense exercise. You should not lift anything heavier than 20 pounds for 14 days.

Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:

Fever greater than 101˚F
Pain that will not go away or worsens
Nausea or vomiting
Swelling, redness, bleeding, or drainage from your wound
No bowel movement or unable to pass gas for 3 days after your procedure
Watery diarrhea lasting longer than 3 days

What Sets Us Apart?

With an unrelenting focus on our patients, we provide extraordinary surgical care. We create new knowledge through research and develop future surgeons, researchers, and leaders across a broad range of specialized areas.

We combine the most advanced subspecialty expertise with cutting edge technology with an emphasis on access and quality. Through our active role in clinical trials, we are helping our patients have access to the most promising new treatments today.