Appendicitis

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is when your appendix gets infected. That’s the small tube extending of your large intestine on the lower right side of the body and it helps us make antibodies when we’re very young. Appendicitis is very common and is one of the most cited reasons for abdominal surgery in the US. 

What are the symptoms of Appendicitis?

Appendicitis normally starts as a pain between the patient’s navel and lower right abdomen. A lot of times there will be more pain in this area when people move. Left untreated, appendicitis is life-threatening because your appendix will eventually burst and the infection can spread. Luckily the treatment for appendicitis is safe, effective, and well known: 

How is appendicitis fixed? What is a pediatric appendectomy?

If your child is diagnosed with appendicitis, the best treatment is to remove the infected appendix. You’ll hear the doctors call that procedure an appendectomy! Like our tonsils and gallbladder, the appendix is not a vital organ, and removing it has no serious impact on our long-term health. There are two types of appendectomies surgeons use to get your child on the road to recovery:

Minimally Invasive Appendectomy (Laparoscopic) and Recovery: 

These are performed by making a small incision in the patient’s abdomen and removing the appendix through the incision with the help of a tiny camera. They have the advantage of being minimally invasive and having shorter recovery times. Our doctors will try to perform these when possible because it’s easier for our bodies to heal smaller cuts.

Open Appendectomy and Recovery:

Surgeons make a single larger incision in the patient’s abdomen so they can remove the infected appendix. Typically, your child’s care team will only opt for this if the appendix had burst, the infection spread, or if there were other complications. The only drawback is that they have longer recovery times, but remember they’re necessary if a laparoscopic appendectomy isn’t appropriate for your child.

Are Appendectomies Safe?

When kids undergo any type of operation it’s natural for parents to worry. That’s why we want to reassure you appendectomies are safe and are not considered risky procedures. If you still have concerns about the process, take a minute to read about the experience of Logan and his mom when he needed an emergency appendectomy.

Remember, neither type of appendectomy is more or less effective than the other, because they both remove the source of appendicitis. Your child’s care team will make sure they’re cared for and that you as their parent or guardian are comfortable!