An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix, a long, thin pouch attached to the colon on the right side of the abdomen. This procedure is the standard treatment for appendicitis (an inflammation of the appendix) and is the most common emergency surgical procedure of the abdomen, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

The appendix is a tube attached to a portion of the intestines called the cecum. It has no known function and its removal usually presents no problems.

Many different conditions can trigger appendicitis, including infection of the digestive tract, in which bacteria invade the appendix. Blockages of the appendix, by bacteria or sometimes by feces moving through the intestines, may also cause appendicitis. When treated promptly, appendicitis poses little threat to the patient. However, if the appendix ruptures before it is removed, infection of the inner lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) can develop into a potentially serious condition known as peritonitis. In rare cases, peritonitis can result in death.

Appendicitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Patients who have any of the symptoms associated with appendicitis are urged to seek immediate medical care. Such symptoms include pain in the lower right abdomen, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Patients should not treat these symptoms at home using heating pads, enemas, laxatives or other remedies. Almost all appendectomies are performed as emergency procedures because the symptoms develop within a few hours.

A physician who diagnoses appendicitis will virtually always recommend an appendectomy because of the potentially life-threatening danger that the untreated condition presents. In about 10 to 20 percent of all cases, the surgeon will discover during the operation that the appendix is actually healthy and is not the source of the patient’s symptoms. In such instances, the appendix is usually removed anyway as a preventive measure. The surgeon will then examine the abdomen for another potential source of illness.