Cost of appendix removal in Maine

What is an appendectomy?

An appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the appendix. The appendix is a thin, finger-shaped tissue attached to the cecum, which is a part of the large intestine. Its exact function is unknown. It can become inflamed or infected, a condition called appendicitis. When this occurs, you may experience fever, pain in the lower right side of your belly, nausea, and vomiting. This is an emergency because the appendix can burst and spill bacteria into your abdominal cavity and bloodstream, spreading infection to the rest of your body. This condition is called peritonitis. You should seek emergency medical attention if you think you may have symptoms of appendicitis or peritonitis.

About 5% of the U.S. population will experience appendicitis. It is more common in younger patients, such as teenagers or young adults, but can occur at any age. 

Your doctor will examine you and order tests, including blood work and imaging tests such as a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, to help visualize the abdominal area. If the appendix is found to be inflamed or infected, an appendectomy will likely be recommended. This is an emergency surgery to remove the appendix and limit the spread of bacteria to the rest of the body. Further information is available at www.my.clevelandclinic.org.

The appendix can be removed either through an open procedure or laparoscopically.

An open appendectomy involves creating a 2 to 4-inch abdominal incision and removing the appendix under direct visualization. This type of operation is usually performed if the appendix has already burst so that the abdominal cavity can be cleaned out more completely with saline fluid and limit the spread of infection to the rest of the body. The recovery time is typically longer for this type of procedure than for a laparoscopic appendectomy.  

Laparoscopic appendectomy involves the use of 2 or 3 small incisions into the abdominal cavity. A thin light and video camera, called a laparoscope, is inserted into the abdomen through one of the incision sites. This allows visualization of the abdominal cavity on a screen during the procedure. Another tube is inserted through a different incision through which the appendix is grabbed and removed by the surgeon. The smaller incision size is less painful and allows for faster healing than a larger incision. More information is available at www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

How painful is an appendectomy?

During the appendectomy, you are under general anesthesia and will not experience any pain. When you wake up in the recovery room, you will likely experience mild to moderate pain. You will be given pain medication, such as ibuprofen, and possibly narcotic medication to help with more intense pain episodes. These medicines should only be needed for a short time as you heal from your surgery. The pain usually decreases over the first few days after the procedure. You will also probably experience soreness in the belly area over the next couple of weeks as you recover, but this pain should lessen each day.

How serious is appendix surgery?

Any surgery has some risk of complications or problems. However, appendix surgery is usually considered a low-risk procedure. Over 250,000 appendectomies are performed in the United States each year. Most people do well and are back to normal activities within a couple of weeks.

Risks of appendix surgery include bleeding, infection, and bowel obstruction. You will be monitored closely right after the surgery before being discharged from the hospital and later in the doctor’s office to ensure that you are healing up well without any complications.

Can you remove your appendix without having appendicitis?

Usually, the appendix is only removed when there is a confirmed or highly suspected case of appendicitis. In some cases, if you are undergoing abdominal surgery for a different condition, you and your surgeon could decide to remove the appendix at the same time to prevent any future potential cases of appendicitis. There are risks of adding this additional surgery, such as increased risk of bleeding and infection. There is also additional pain and healing time that should be considered. These issues should be discussed with your physician.

How long does it take to recover from an appendectomy?

The recovery time from an appendectomy is shorter for a laparoscopic procedure than for an open appendectomy.

If you undergo a laparoscopic appendectomy, you might go home from the hospital the same day. You will usually stay overnight if you have an open appendectomy.

In either type of appendectomy, you will likely be doing many of your regular activities within a few days of surgery. However, it could take up to 6 weeks before you feel ready for strenuous activity.  

You may experience intermittent episodes of nausea, abdominal soreness, and fatigue over the first couple of weeks after the surgery. If you have a fever, severe abdominal pain, or vomiting, you should contact your physician promptly for evaluation. For more information, visit www.mayoclinic.org/diseases.

What can you not eat after appendix surgery?

For the first couple of days after appendix surgery, you may not have much of an appetite. You should focus on staying well hydrated by drinking a lot of fluids and eating a primarily liquid diet, such as soups or broth, which are easily digested. Over the next few days, as your pain levels lessen and your appetite returns, you should focus on eating a healthy diet with proteins and complex carbohydrates. You should avoid foods with high-fat content or processed sugar, as these can cause diarrhea.

What are the long-term effects of having your appendix removed?

Most people have no long-term effects from having an appendectomy, and their digestive systems function normally.  

Less commonly, patients can develop an infection at the incision site. If you notice a fever or any redness or pus at the skin surface of your incision, you should contact your surgeon for further evaluation.

Sometimes an infection or abscess can develop internally at the site of the appendix removal. You may develop a fever or worsening abdominal pain. This should be reported to your doctor.   

If you have significant constipation or diarrhea, contact your doctor since this can be a sign of a bowel obstruction, and further evaluation may be necessary.