Appendix Removal Using Minimally Invasive Surgery

Your appendix is a small, finger like extension of the cecum, the first part of the large intestines. A hollow tube, or lumen, inside the appendix occasionally becomes blocked by intestinal contents. When this occurs, the appendix becomes inflamed and eventually infected. If left untreated, the appendix may rupture, spreading the infection into the abdomen. This condition is called "peritonitis" and is a true medical emergency.

Because the appendix does not have an essential function in the body, removing an infected appendix does not cause any problems for the body. 

Appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix is called an appendectomy. Whenever possible, Dr. Bagnato performs appendectomies using the minimally invasive laparoscopic technique. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so the patient is asleep and pain-free.

The laparoscopic approach avoids the need for the large incision required when an appendectomy is performed using an open technique. The major advantages of this technique are less pain after the operation, a shorter hospital stay, a more rapid return of normal bowel function, a faster return to normal activity, and a better cosmetic result, owing to the smaller incisions.