Having surgery
Appendicectomy (surgery to remove the appendix)
Appendicitis is treated with surgery to remove your appendix. This is called an appendicectomy.
You have the surgery under general anaesthetic. This means that you are asleep and do not feel any pain.
Before surgery
You will see a surgeon who explains the surgery. An anaesthetist will then check your general health and explain more about your general anaesthetic.
You need to have an empty stomach before the surgery. Your nurse and doctor will tell you when you need to stop eating and drinking (fasting).
During surgery
The operation can be done as either keyhole or open surgery. This depends on your condition.
Keyhole (laparoscopic) appendicectomy
We make several small cuts in your tummy and use special instruments to remove your appendix.
If your appendix has burst (ruptured), the doctors might not be able to do keyhole surgery. They might need to do open surgery or make a bigger cut down the middle of your tummy.
Open-surgery appendicectomy
We make a cut in the lower right-hand side or middle of your tummy to find and remove your appendix.
If you have an abscess on your appendix, we will drain and wash this away. We might leave a small drain tube in you for a few days after your surgery.
We close any wounds with stitches or glue, and sometimes both.
After surgery
If your appendix has not ruptured, you can go home on the same day, or the day after surgery.
You will wake up in the recovery area, where we monitor you. Then we take you back to the ward or day-case lounge to get ready to leave.
You can start to drink after the operation and eat when you feel hungry, unless we give you different advice.
You can get out of bed as soon as you feel able to after your surgery. You might feel drowsy (sleepy) for a day or more while the anaesthetic wears off. Try to relax and rest during this time.
For at least 24 hours after surgery, you should not:
- make any important decisions
- sign any legal documents
- operate machinery or drive
Read more about what to do after having a general anaesthetic.
If your appendix has burst (ruptured)
If you have a ruptured appendix, you might need to stay in hospital for longer.
A more serious complication of a rupture is called peritonitis. This is when the peritoneum becomes red and swollen (inflamed). The peritoneum is the layer of tissue that lines the tummy and the organs inside it.
Pain
It is common to feel some pain in your tummy and around the wound for several days after your surgery. You can take regular painkillers to ease the pain.
If you had keyhole surgery, you might get some pain in your shoulder. This is caused by the gas that we put in your tummy during the surgery. Your tummy might also feel bloated after surgery. Your body will absorb the gas, and your pain and bloating will reduce the more you move around.
You might also have a sore throat afterwards. This is caused by the breathing tube that we put in your throat for the general anaesthetic. The pain goes away in 1 or 2 days.
Leaving hospital
You can usually leave hospital on the day of the surgery or the day after, unless your appendicitis was severe. You can go home when you:
- feel ready
- can eat and drink without feeling sick
- have no signs of infection
- have had your wound checked and it is OK
- can get out of bed and move around
- can manage your pain at home with tablets
If you go home on the day of your surgery, you will need a responsible adult (someone over 18) to collect you and stay with you overnight.