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WHAT IS AN APPENDECTOMY?
An appendectomy is surgery to remove the appendix, a small finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right side of the belly. It is the standard treatment for appendicitis, when the appendix becomes blocked, swollen and infected. Without treatment, an inflamed appendix can burst and spread infection through the abdomen. Appendectomy is one of the most common emergency operations, and most are done laparoscopically through a few small incisions. At North Florida Surgeons in Jacksonville, FL, our general surgeons perform appendectomies at Baptist Medical Center.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Our board-certified general surgeons treat appendicitis from early, uncomplicated cases to a ruptured appendix, using minimally invasive surgery whenever it is safe.
Many patients go home the same day or the day after a laparoscopic appendectomy.
If you have sudden, worsening pain in the lower right belly, go to the nearest emergency room.
APPENDICITIS: SIGNS AND DIAGNOSIS
COMMON SYMPTOMS
Pain that often starts around the belly button and moves to the lower right side, gets worse with walking or coughing, and comes with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or a low fever.
WHEN TO GO TO THE ER
Go to the emergency room or call 911 if belly pain keeps getting worse over a few hours, or comes with fever, vomiting or a hard, tender belly. Do not take laxatives or use a heating pad while you wait.
HOW IT IS DIAGNOSED
The doctor examines your belly and orders blood tests to look for infection. A CT scan usually confirms the diagnosis. Ultrasound or MRI is often used for children and during pregnancy.
A RUPTURED APPENDIX
An appendix that is not treated can burst, usually within two to three days, causing peritonitis or a pocket of pus (abscess). Treatment then takes longer and may include a drain and several days of antibiotics. Learn more about our general surgery services.
ANTIBIOTICS INSTEAD OF SURGERY?
For some mild, uncomplicated cases, antibiotics alone are an option. However, about 3 to 4 in 10 people treated this way have appendicitis again and need surgery within a few years. Your surgeon will discuss the choice with you.
HOW THE SURGERY IS DONE
LAPAROSCOPIC APPENDECTOMY
Through three small incisions, the surgeon uses a camera and thin instruments to remove the appendix. The operation usually takes under an hour under general anesthesia, and scars are small.
OPEN APPENDECTOMY
When the appendix has burst and caused widespread infection, or laparoscopy is not safe, the surgeon removes it through a single incision in the lower right belly.
TREATING AN ABSCESS
If a ruptured appendix has formed an abscess, it may first be drained through the skin and treated with antibiotics. The appendix is sometimes removed a few weeks later, once the infection has settled.
WHAT TO EXPECT
BEFORE SURGERY
In the emergency department you receive IV fluids, antibiotics and pain medicine, and you should not eat or drink. Surgery is usually done within hours of the diagnosis.
IN THE HOSPITAL
After a simple appendectomy, most patients go home the same day or the next morning. After a ruptured appendix, the stay is often several days for IV antibiotics. Our enhanced recovery (ERAS) approach helps you get moving sooner.
CARE AT HOME
Walk several times a day, return to a normal diet as you feel ready, and keep the small incisions clean and dry. Call us if you have a fever, worsening belly pain, vomiting, or redness or drainage from an incision.
RECOVERY
Most people return to school or desk work in one to two weeks and avoid heavy lifting for two to four weeks, or longer after open surgery. You can live a completely normal life without your appendix.
OUR GENERAL SURGEONS
Appendectomy at North Florida Surgeons is performed by our board-certified general surgeons. Meet our surgeons or read about general surgery.
APPENDECTOMY FAQS
Can appendicitis go away on its own?
Rarely. Appendicitis usually gets worse and can burst within a few days, so it needs prompt medical care. Some mild cases can be treated with antibiotics, but many come back later.
How long does appendix surgery take?
A laparoscopic appendectomy usually takes under an hour. Surgery for a ruptured appendix can take longer.
Can you live a normal life without an appendix?
Yes. The appendix has no essential function in adults, and removing it does not change digestion or diet.
How soon can I go back to work after appendix removal?
Most people return to desk work or school in one to two weeks. Jobs with heavy lifting usually require two to four weeks off, or longer after open surgery or a ruptured appendix.
Is appendix removal surgery safe?
Yes, it is very safe. Possible problems include wound infection, an abscess inside the belly after a ruptured appendix, bleeding and, rarely, injury to nearby organs.
Does insurance cover appendix surgery?
Surgery for appendicitis is medically necessary and is covered by most plans, but your costs depend on your plan. See the insurance plans we accept or call our office.
What does appendicitis pain feel like?
It usually starts as a dull ache around the belly button, then over several hours moves to the lower right side and becomes sharp and constant. Moving, coughing or going over bumps in a car often makes it worse.
Can every appendix be removed laparoscopically?
Most can. Your surgeon may need to switch to an open operation if the appendix has burst and caused widespread infection, if there is heavy scarring from earlier surgery, or if the view is not clear enough to operate safely.
How do I reach North Florida Surgeons after surgery?
For follow-up visits or questions after surgery, call (904) 398-0033 or use the contact form. Our office is at 836 Prudential Dr., Suite 1001, Jacksonville, FL 32207. If you think you have appendicitis now, go to the nearest emergency room. Related: general surgery, gallbladder removal.
