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Laparoscopic Appendectomy

Laparoscopic Appendectomy

At UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, we believe parents and guardians can contribute to the success of this surgery and invite you to participate. Please read the following information to learn about this surgery and how you can help.

Fast Facts about Laparoscopic Appendectomy

  • Appendectomy is an operation to remove the appendix when it has become inflamed; an inflamed appendix is called appendicitis (uh-pen-di-SIGH-tus).
  • If left untreated, the appendix could rupture (burst) and potentially cause a serious infection. The appropriate initial management of appendicitis is the administration of antibiotics, along with intravenous fluids and pain medication. Ultimately, most children with appendicitis will require surgery, although some patients may be treated with antibiotics alone. If surgery is indicated, an operation should occur sometime in the next 24 hours.
  • When your child has surgery, it will be done under general anesthesia (an-es-THEEZ-ya), which means that he or she will be asleep during the surgery.
  • The surgery will take about 1 hour.
  • If the appendix is not ruptured, your child may be able to go home on the day of surgery, although many children will need to stay overnight prior to discharge. If the appendix is ruptured, he or she will need to be treated with antibiotics for at least 5 days and potentially longer in some cases. Some children will be able to go home to complete this antibiotic course.