Appendix Removal (Laparoscopic)

What it is

The appendix is a small pouch attached to the large intestine. When it becomes blocked and infected — a condition called appendicitis — it usually needs to come out before it can rupture. In the laparoscopic version of this surgery, a surgeon makes three or four small cuts in the abdomen, inflates the belly with gas to create room to work, and removes the appendix using a camera and narrow instruments passed through those cuts. Most surgeons prefer this approach over a single larger incision because recovery is faster and the scars are smaller.

Why it is done

• To treat appendicitis, which almost always requires surgery rather than antibiotics alone once the appendix has become significantly inflamed
• To prevent the appendix from rupturing, which can spread infection through the abdomen and turn a routine surgery into a more serious one
• Occasionally to remove an appendix that shows a suspicious growth found during another procedure

What to expect

Most people are admitted through the emergency department with abdominal pain and are taken to surgery within hours of diagnosis. The operation itself typically takes 30 to 60 minutes under general anesthesia. Recovery in the hospital is usually one to two days for an uncomplicated case, and most people return to normal activity within one to three weeks. A ruptured appendix, or one found late, can mean a longer hospital stay and a course of antibiotics.

Questions worth asking

• Is my appendix ruptured, and does that change the plan or the recovery time?
• Will this be done laparoscopically, or is an open incision expected?
• What is the expected length of stay, and what does that mean for the facility fee on my bill?