Overview: It begins with a dull pain near your belly button, then becomes a sharp pain in your lower right abdomen. Don’t ignore this red flag and other symptoms. You could have appendicitis and need emergency surgery before your appendix bursts. Learn why it’s important to take fast action!
We all have abdominal pain from time to time, but when does the pain signal that you’re having an appendicitis attack?
For many, appendicitis pain begins as a dull pain around the belly button and then shifts to the lower right side of the abdomen, where it becomes stabbing and hurts worse when you walk, cough or move. That’s a red flag, particularly if the pain lasts for a few hours and is accompanied by low-grade fever, nausea, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, vomiting and loss of appetite. Then it’s time to go to the Emergency Department.
What’s an appendix? When does the pain signal the need for emergency surgery?
Your appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right abdomen.
Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix that occurs when the opening becomes blocked, usually by hard stool or swollen tissue. The blockage can cause an infection, and the appendix can become inflamed, swollen and filled with pus.
As the inflammation worsens, appendicitis pain often increases and eventually becomes serious. Take fast action and seek emergency care right away if you have severe belly pain that worsens or hurts when touched. Why? An infected appendix can burst or rupture as soon as 48 to 72 hours after you have symptoms and cause severe harm. Delaying care can become life-threatening and complicate your treatment.
Appendix pain can be harder to diagnose in women because it has similar symptoms to ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps and other gynecologic conditions.
Antibiotics and most often surgery to remove the appendix, called an appendectomy, is the standard treatment.
Learn about robotic surgery at MercyOne
What happens if my appendix bursts?
A burst or ruptured appendix spreads infection throughout the abdomen, a life-threatening condition called peritonitis. This condition requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix and clean the abdominal cavity.
What's an appendectomy?
A century-old procedure, an appendectomy is a surgery to take out your appendix when it gets infected or swollen. The goal is to remove the appendix before it breaks open. An appendectomy is the most common reason for emergency surgery in the U.S. today.
There are three types of surgical care to remove the appendix – open, laparoscopic and robotic-assisted.
- If your infection has burst and spread, you may need an open appendectomy, an incision 2 to 4 inches long in the lower right side of the abdomen. If an abscess has formed, your surgeon may use antibiotics and drain the abscess before the appendectomy.
- A laparoscopic appendectomy is less invasive and done with one to three tiny cuts. A long, thin tube with a tiny camera called a laparoscope is put into one of the incisions. Your surgeon looks at a TV monitor to see inside your abdomen. The appendix is removed through one of the incisions.
- A robotic-assisted appendectomy involves a surgeon manipulating robotic arms and instruments from a console. This advanced technology removes the infected appendix via small incisions and offers the surgeon greater precision, 3D visualization, more wrist flexibility and easier navigation in tight places. The surgeon is always in full control.
MercyOne is a leader in offering robotic technology like the da Vinci Surgical System to help patients recover faster, lower infection risk, reduce blood loss and scarring and benefit from a quicker healing time.
Will I be OK without my appendix?
The appendix is a vestigial organ, meaning it doesn’t serve a necessary function today. While still a mystery, research continues to explore its role in immune or gut health. Patients usually recover completely, with no long-term health issues, after an appendectomy. Most usually recover in one to three weeks, depending on the type of surgery they had.
Appendicitis most often occurs in younger individuals in their teens through their 30s. If you or someone you know experiences persistent abdominal pain or nausea, seek immediate medical attention.
Learn more about surgical care at MercyOne.
This blog was medically reviewed by a MercyOne provider.
