Open appendicectomy
An appendectomy is surgery to remove the appendix when it is infected. This condition is called appendicitis. Appendectomy is a common emergency surgery that cures appendicitis.
The appendix is a thin pouch that is attached to the large intestine. It sits in the lower right part of your belly. If you have appendicitis, your appendix is usually removed right away. If not treated, your appendix can burst (rupture). This is a medical emergency.
There are two types of surgery to remove the appendix. The standard method is an open appendectomy. A less invasive method is a laparoscopic appendectomy.
Open appendectomy. A cut or incision about 2 to 4 inches long is made in the lower right-hand side of your belly or abdomen. The appendix is taken out through the incision.
Laparoscopic appendectomy. This method is less invasive. That means it’s done without a large incision. Instead, 1 to 3 tiny cuts are made. 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 your abdomen and guide the tools. The appendix is removed through one of the incisions.
During a laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon may decide that an open appendectomy is needed.
If your appendix has burst and infection has spread, you may need an open appendectomy. If an area of infection called an abscess has formed around the appendix, the surgeon may use antibiotics and drain the abscess before the appendectomy.
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.
Both types of surgery have low risk for complications. A laparoscopic appendectomy has a shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery time, and lower infection rates. Some studies suggest that intravenous antibiotics alone could treat appendicitis without the need for surgery. But appendectomy remains the standard of care since antibiotics alone do not always cure appendicitis.