The appendix is a small, finger-like appendage that sits at the juncture of the small and large intestines. Before antibiotics an appendectomy or removal of the appendix was one of the most common surgical procedures.

Symptoms of a possible appendectomy include tenderness in the lower abdomen, loss of appetite, fever and nausea. Since the function of the appendix is to remove harmful germs, ideally the appendix should be treated and retained through antibiotic medicine.

Care must be taken during treatment to avoid the appendix bursting causing peritonitis, which is an infection of the abdomen. Doctors look for an elevated white blood cell count, and rebound tenderness for a diagnosis of appendicitis.

Two types of surgery exist for appendectomy, one is an open appendectomy the other is a laparoscopic appendectomy.

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