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Ency. home > Surgery > A > Appendectomy

Appendectomy    See images

Overview | Recovery | Risks

Alternative names:

Appendix removal

Definition:

Surgical removal of an inflamed or infected appendix (appendicitis).

Description

The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch of intestinal tissue located between the small intestine (cecum) and large intestine (colon). It is thought that blockage of the opening of the appendix into the bowel by a hard small stool fragment (fecalith) causes inflammation and infection of the appendix (appendicitis). The infected appendix then must be surgically removed (emergency appendectomy) before a hole develops in the appendix (perforation) and spreads the infection to the entire abdominal space (peritonitis).

The surgery is done while the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (using general anesthesia). A small incision is made in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen and the appendix is removed. If a pocket of infection (abscess) has formed or the appendix has ruptured (perforated), the abdomen will be thoroughly washed out during surgery and a small tube will be left in to help drain out fluids or pus.

Indications

Infection or inflammation of the appendix (acute appendicitis). Symptoms of acute appendicitis include:

Your doctor will:
  • check your abdomen for tenderness and tightness
  • check your rectum for tenderness and an enlarged appendix
  • check your blood for an increase in white blood cells (WBC)
There is no test to confirm appendicitis and the symptoms may be caused by other illnesses. The doctor must diagnose from the information you report and what he sees. Even if the surgeon finds that the appendix is not infected (which can happen up to 25% of the time), he will thoroughly check the other abdominal organs and remove the appendix anyway.

Ency. home > Surgery > A > Appendectomy

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