Your surgeon for Appendicitis
Every procedure is carried out by a consultant-level surgeon.
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-shaped pouch at the start of the large bowel. It usually becomes blocked, and it causes pain in the lower right side of the abdomen, nausea, vomiting and a low fever.
It is why the problem moves so quickly - the pain often starts around the navel and then settles in the right lower abdomen over a few hours, and it gets worse rather than better. An inflamed appendix can burst if it is left alone, so it is always treated as an emergency.
Diagnosis is made from your symptoms, a physical examination and blood tests, with an ultrasound or a CT scan when the picture is not clear.
At Primitive Health Care the usual treatment is laparoscopic appendectomy. Three small keyhole cuts are made instead of one long open cut, the appendix is removed and the cuts are closed with fine stitches. Most patients go home the same day or after one night.
Illustration only. Your surgeon will explain your own findings.
Appendicitis treatment at a glance
The essentials, before you read any further.
| Condition | Appendicitis |
|---|---|
| Procedure | Laparoscopic appendectomy |
| Duration | 30 to 60 minutes |
| Performed by | General / Laparoscopic Surgeon |
| Anaesthesia | General |
| Hospital stay | Same day discharge in most cases |
| Back to routine | 5 to 7 days |
Are you experiencing any of these?
If two or more of these sound familiar, it is worth speaking to a surgeon.
- Sudden pain in the lower right abdomen
- Pain that starts near the navel and moves down
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Low-grade fever
- Pain that worsens when you walk, cough or bend
Talk to our medical adviser for free
No cost for the first consultation and no obligation to book anything.
Laser treatment compared with open surgery
Both are real options. This is how they differ in practice.
| Open surgery | Laser surgery | |
|---|---|---|
| Cuts and incisions | A 5 to 10 cm cut is required | Three small keyhole cuts only |
| Stitches | Many stitches along the cut | A few fine stitches or glue |
| Pain afterwards | Significant, needs strong painkillers | Mild, controlled with routine medication |
| Bleeding | More | Minimal |
| Hospital stay | Two to three days | Same day discharge in most cases |
| Return to work | Two to three weeks | Five to seven days |
| Risk of wound infection | Higher, open wound | Low |
Laser treatment is not right for every patient or every grade of the condition. Your surgeon will tell you honestly if open surgery is the better choice for you.
Why patients choose laser treatment
What actually changes for you, day to day.
Smaller cuts and scars
Three small keyhole cuts instead of one long open cut, so the scar is much smaller.
Same-day discharge
Most patients go home within a few hours of the procedure rather than staying overnight.
Back to work in days
Normal routine usually resumes within five to seven days instead of two to three weeks.
Less bleeding
The laparoscopic instruments seal the vessels as they work, so blood loss during the procedure is minimal.
Lower infection risk
Small wounds carry much less risk of a wound infection than one large open cut.
Senior surgeons
Every procedure is performed by a professor-level general or laparoscopic surgeon.
What happens on the day
Step by step, so there are no surprises.
-
Consultation and diagnosis
20 to 30 minutes- You meet the surgeon and describe where the pain started
- Examination, blood tests and an ultrasound or CT scan confirm the diagnosis
- The surgeon explains whether keyhole surgery is suitable for you
-
Admission and preparation
1 to 2 hours- Registration at the hospital on the day of the procedure
- Blood pressure, pulse and routine blood tests are checked
- Consent is signed and an IV line is started
-
Anaesthesia
10 to 15 minutes- General anaesthesia, so you stay asleep throughout
- You feel nothing during the procedure
-
The laparoscopic procedure
30 to 60 minutes- Three small cuts are made in the abdomen
- A camera guides the surgeon while the appendix is removed
- The base of the appendix is sealed with staples
- The cuts are closed with fine stitches or glue
-
Recovery and observation
2 to 4 hours- You wake up in the recovery area and nurses check your vitals
- You start taking fluids once you are fully awake
-
Discharge and follow-up
Same day or one night- Most patients go home the same day after a keyhole appendectomy
- Painkillers and early-walking advice are given
- A follow-up visit is arranged and wound care advice is given
What will it cost?
The cost depends on whether the appendix has burst, the hospital you choose and the operating surgeon. Send your details and a care coordinator will call you with an exact figure. There is no obligation to book.
