Appendicitis Specialist

What Is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. It is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain, with 5 percent of Americans developing the condition at some point during their lives. Appendicitis is more common in young adults in their teens and twenties, although it can develop in patients of all ages. A sharp pain that begins near the belly button that then moves to the right and lower abdomen characterizes appendicitis. The pain typically occurs suddenly and quickly worsens. Other symptoms that follow the pain of appendicitis include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea, and swelling in the abdomen. Appendicitis can be caused by a number of factors: a blockage of the opening of the appendix, enlarged tissue in the walls of the appendix, trauma, clogged appendiceal lumen, or inflammatory bowel disease.

How Is Appendicitis Treated?

Dr. Hoeltgen and Dr. Wool perform a variety of surgeries to remove the appendix. Whenever possible, the doctors will use minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical procedures to remove the appendix. Laparoscopic procedures are performed inside the body with special instruments, which are inserted through small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeons use a laparoscope, which is a long slender tube with a light and a camera mounted on the end. The camera sends a video feedback to a monitor that the surgeon watches to “see” the procedure inside the body, allowing them to avoid the riskier open surgery.

What Happens After the Appendix Is Removed?

In most cases, patients are able to get up and move around within 12 hours of surgery and can take up to a week before returning to work. Under a doctor’s supervision, patients will slowly add normal activities with increasing vigor over 2-3 weeks. Patients will have follow-up appointments to check the progress of their recovery. Recovery from laparoscopic surgeries is typically shorter than a traditional open surgery.