An appendectomy is a surgical operation to remove the appendix, a small, tube-shaped organ attached to the large intestine. Doctors perform this surgery when the appendix becomes infected and swollen, a painful condition called appendicitis.

The appendix doesn't do much important work in the body, but when it gets infected, it can cause severe stomach pain, fever, and nausea. If left untreated, an infected appendix can burst and cause serious health problems. That's why doctors act quickly when they diagnose appendicitis, usually scheduling an appendectomy within hours.

The surgery itself is common and generally safe. Surgeons either make a small incision in the abdomen or use tiny instruments and cameras in a technique called laparoscopic surgery. Most patients recover within a few weeks and live completely normal lives without an appendix.

The word comes from “appendix” plus the suffix -ectomy, which means “surgical removal.”