An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix — the small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right abdomen. It is the standard treatment for appendicitis, an inflammation of the appendix that usually comes on quickly and worsens over hours to days. The site's surgery library includes appendectomy videos showing both the open and laparoscopic approaches, like the one embedded above.

Why the appendix is removed

Appendicitis happens when the inside of the appendix becomes blocked — by hardened stool, swollen tissue, or infection — and bacteria multiply inside it. The classic pattern is pain that starts around the belly button and moves to the lower right abdomen, often with nausea, loss of appetite, and fever. Left untreated, an inflamed appendix can burst (perforate) and spill infection into the abdomen, which is a much more serious situation. That risk of perforation is why appendicitis is treated as urgent and why removal, rather than waiting, is the usual course.

How the surgery is done

Laparoscopic appendectomy is the most common approach today. Through a few small incisions, the surgeon inserts a camera and slender instruments, finds and frees the appendix, ties off or staples its base and blood supply, and removes it through one of the small openings.

Open appendectomy uses a single incision in the lower right abdomen. It may be chosen when the appendix has already burst, when there is extensive infection to wash out, or when laparoscopy is not suitable. In either approach, if the appendix has perforated, the abdomen is rinsed and a drain is sometimes left briefly.

Recovery

Most people are up and walking the same day or the day after surgery. After an uncomplicated laparoscopic appendectomy, many return to light routines within one to two weeks; open surgery and perforated cases take longer, and antibiotics continue when there was perforation. You can live a completely normal life without an appendix — it has no essential function that the body misses.

Educational only — this article is general information about appendectomy, not medical advice. Severe abdominal pain is a reason to seek urgent care, not to self-diagnose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an appendectomy take?

The operation itself usually takes under an hour in uncomplicated cases. Perforated or complicated cases take longer.

What happens if appendicitis is not treated?

The appendix can burst, spreading infection inside the abdomen (peritonitis), which can become life-threatening. This is why appendicitis is treated as an emergency.

Will I have a big scar?

Laparoscopic surgery leaves a few small scars. Open surgery leaves one larger scar in the lower right abdomen.

Can appendicitis be treated with antibiotics only?

In some uncomplicated cases antibiotics are used, sometimes as a bridge to surgery and sometimes as the main treatment — but recurrence is common, and surgery remains the standard definitive treatment. Your surgical team decides based on your case.