Should the Appendix be removed as well

Quite often a surgeon is faced with a decision making dilemma during laparotomy for any surgical indications whether to remove the appendix at the same time.

There is no one answer to all patients.

If the appendix appears inflammed, then it has to be removed.This is quite often the case since the incidence of Appendicitis of various degrees are very common in humans. It is said that the annual incidence of Appendicitis in any community is 0.002%.....ie.2 people in every 1000 will suffer Appendicitis sometimes in their lives.

Sometimes,Appendicitis is so mild that it can mimick as nonspecific stomach aches or even mild gastroenteritis.

Patients who have undergone any form of laparotomy and laparoscopy should ask their surgeons whether the appendix is removed as well if they are not already informed.

The picture above shows a large loop of small bowels and an inflammed appendix forming the contents of a large Right Inguinal Hernia. The appendix was removed by standard Open Appendectomy technique and the bowels were reduced into the abdominal cavity before the large hernia defect is repaired with a prosthetic mesh.