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Appendectomy for a Child

Appendectomy is a surgery to
remove the appendix. The
appendix is a small pouch that
comes off the large intestine. The
appendix sometimes gets
blocked and becomes infected
and swollen. Signs of an infected
appendix include abdominal pain
in the lower right side, fever,
poor appetite, nausea and
vomiting. If the appendix bursts,
it can make you very sick.

There are two ways to do this
surgery:

•

Open appendectomy - a
single incision is made in the
abdomen. The doctor works
through this larger incision to
remove the appendix.

•

Laparoscopic appendectomy - 3 or 4 small incisions are made in the
abdomen. The doctor uses a camera and tools through the small
incisions to remove the appendix. With this type of surgery, your
child may recover faster, have less pain, less scarring, fewer wound
problems and often spends less time in the hospital.

To Prepare

•

Tell your doctor what medicines your child is taking including
prescriptions, over the counter medicines, vitamins and herbs.

•

If your child has any allergies to medicines, foods or other things, tell
the staff.

•

Your child should have nothing more to drink until after the surgery.