Appendectomies in East Valley, AZ

Serving Tempe, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, Casa Grande & Florence

The appendix is a small, tube-shaped organ attached to the large intestine. The precise function of the appendix is unknown, but it’s thought to help with recovery from diarrhea, inflammation, and intestinal infections. An inflamed appendix causes a condition called appendicitis, which may cause pain in your lower right abdomen. If this condition develops, it may be best to have your appendix removed. Don’t worry — you can get along just fine without this organ.

The official name for appendix removal is appendectomy. This is among the most common surgeries performed in the U.S. The team at Surgical Professionals has performed numerous successful appendectomies over the past 20 years, and we’re confident we can help your procedure go as planned.

To schedule an appendectomy in Arizona, please contact us at 480-892-2456. We operate at most major hospitals in the Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, and Queen Creek areas.

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Who Needs an Appendectomy?

If appendicitis goes untreated, the appendix could burst, releasing bacteria and other harmful substances into the abdominal cavity, which can be life-threatening. Appendectomy is the standard treatment for an inflamed appendix, and it’s critical to remove the organ before it bursts. Therefore, you should seek treatment right away if you exhibit these symptoms:

Pain in the lower right abdomen
Abdominal swelling
Rigid abdominal muscles
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever

Remember that not everyone with appendicitis has all these symptoms. If you suspect you have appendicitis, go to the emergency room immediately. You may need an appendectomy right away to prevent complications.

How Is an Appendectomy Performed?

Removing the appendix is a fairly straightforward procedure. The two most common methods include open surgery and laparoscopic surgery.

In an open appendectomy, the surgeon makes one long incision over the appendix. The organ is removed, and the wound is closed with stitches. If the appendix has burst, this method allows the doctor to clean the abdominal cavity. This is the traditional way to perform an appendectomy.

In a laparoscopic appendectomy, your surgeon makes several small incisions. Then, a tiny light, HD camera, and other surgical tools are inserted through the incisions. The appendix is removed, and the wounds are closed and dressed. This option generally offers a shorter recovery time. In fact, at Surgical Professionals, we often can discharge you directly home from the recovery room if your appendix has not yet ruptured at time of surgery. We do the majority of our appendectomies with this approach.

Rarely, if you have appendicitis with severe complications such as an abscess, rupture, or other problem, you may need to have a larger incision performed to safely do your surgery. This is rare but occasionally necessary to treat you properly.

When the appendectomy is complete, you’ll need to remain in the hospital for several hours while doctors monitor your physical condition. Some patients return home the same day, while others require an overnight hospital stay. If you have had a leak or a rupture from your appendix, you may need to stay in the hospital several days to be treated with IV antibiotics. Full recovery takes about four to six weeks, but generally, you are able to walk around your home the same day of surgery.

Risks of Appendectomies

Because we perform a high volume of appendectomies each year, our patients are set up for a successful surgery. Still, all medical procedures come with risks. The ones most often associated with this surgery include:

Pain, discomfort, infection, and bleeding at the incision sites.
Injury to nearby organs.
Postsurgical infection or abscess. This can sometimes occur several weeks after surgery.
Blocked bowels. This is uncommon after appendectomy.

Please note that the risks of an appendectomy are generally less than the risks of untreated appendicitis.

Schedule an Appendectomy in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and Surrounding Areas

If you are exhibiting signs of appendicitis, you may need surgery to restore your health. With the general surgeons at Surgical Professionals, you’re in good hands! We were founded in the East Valley in 2000. For over two decades, we have developed close relationships with our patients and primary care colleagues to deliver the best possible results.

We offer an extensive range of general surgeries, including appendectomies, allowing us to provide comprehensive care. Rest assured that we always do right by our patients.

If you think you have appendicitis, we recommend you either immediately call us or go to our emergency room and request to be seen by one of the surgeons at Surgical Professionals.

Please contact us at 480-892-2456 to schedule a consultation for an appendectomy in Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and surrounding areas.

Serving the Following Cities

Phoenix
Scottsdale
Tempe
Apache Junction
Gold Canyon
Casa Grande
Florence
Mesa
Gilbert
Queen Creek
And the surrounding areas!

Please note that the above information is provided for general purposes only and may not apply to your specific situation. Our surgical capabilities may also be subject to change. Contact us to discuss your medical condition, determine the most appropriate treatment for your individual case, and confirm that we can address your procedure.

Appendectomy FAQs

Do appendectomies have long-term consequences?

Very few patients experience long-term symptoms of consequences of any kind with an appendectomy, which is why it’s still the favored treatment option for appendicitis. Of the problems a patient might have after the surgery, the likeliest complications are hernias at the incision sites, appendicitis in any remaining portion of the appendix, abscesses, and issues in the adjacent bowel — but all of these are rare.

Is surgery my only option for appendicitis?

Appendectomies are the preferred first line of treatment in most cases of appendicitis, but it’s not the only option. If, for whatever reason, surgery isn’t a good option for you, infections of the appendix can be treated the same way as other infections: with appropriate antibiotics. Your doctor and surgeon will assess whether an appendectomy is the right option for your condition and case of appendicitis.

How long will it take me to get back to normal?

Recovery time can vary depending on whether your appendix burst or not, whether the surgery performed is traditional open surgery or laparoscopic surgery, and on personal factors such as age and general health. If you have laparoscopic surgery without a burst appendix and show no signs of complication, you’ll probably be able to leave directly from the recovery room after your surgery or the following day. Full recovery from appendectomy can take as long as two months, but you’ll be able to walk around comfortably within the day in most cases.

If my appendix bursts, what will happen?

A burst or ruptured appendix refers to a case of appendicitis in which the buildup of bacteria from the infection begins to leak out of the appendix into the rest of your body. Depending on the circumstances, this might mean immediate surgery to remove the appendix or it might mean the use of antibiotics, drainage of the abdomen, and IV nutrition. You are much more likely to have an extended hospitalization, need an open surgery or need additional procedure if you have a severe rupture.

What happens to my appendix after you take it out?

After removing your appendix, it will be taken and inspected under a microscope to confirm appendicitis and rule out any other health problem that might have resembled appendicitis, such as inflammatory bowel diseases or cancers.