What does appendectomy mean?
An appendectomy is a surgical procedure in which the appendix — a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine — is removed from the body. It is most often performed as an emergency operation to treat appendicitis, the painful inflammation of the appendix that can become life-threatening if the organ ruptures. Surgeons may carry out the operation through a single larger incision (an open appendectomy) or using several small incisions and a camera (a laparoscopic appendectomy), which generally allows faster recovery. The word is primarily clinical: doctors and nurses use it routinely, while patients tend to describe it more casually as having their appendix out. It ranks among the most frequently performed emergency abdominal surgeries worldwide, making it one of the best-known terms in surgical medicine. The spelling differs slightly by region, with British English traditionally favouring 'appendicectomy' and American English 'appendectomy'.
nounA surgical operation to remove the appendix, typically performed as an emergency treatment for appendicitis.
- Surgical removal of the appendix, usually to treat appendicitis.
"The surgeon performed an appendectomy within hours of the patient's diagnosis."
"She was rushed into surgery for an emergency appendectomy after the CT scan confirmed appendicitis."
"Recovery from a laparoscopic appendectomy is usually much quicker than from the traditional open procedure."
Plural refers to multiple such operations, e.g. across patients or in statistics.
"The hospital performs several hundred appendectomies each year."
It's one of the most commonly performed emergency surgeries in the world — and thanks to laparoscopic techniques, many patients go home the same day.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of appendectomy
The term derives from the Latin 'appendix', meaning 'something attached' or 'appendage', combined with the Greek-derived suffix '-ectomy', meaning 'excision' or surgical removal. The suffix '-ectomy' comes from the Greek 'ektomē' ('a cutting out'), formed from 'ek-' ('out') and 'tomē' ('a cutting'). As a compound surgical term it belongs to the family of '-ectomy' words such as tonsillectomy and lobectomy, which entered medical vocabulary during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as modern surgery developed.
How appendectomy is actually used
A clinical/medical term used mainly by healthcare professionals; laypeople more often say 'appendix removal' or 'having your appendix out'. In British usage 'appendicectomy' is the traditional spelling, while 'appendectomy' is standard American.
Easily confused with appendectomy
Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix (the disease), while an appendectomy is the surgical removal of that appendix (the treatment).