Is non-emergency appendectomy still ok?

JordanN

Is removal of a non-inflammed appendix still reccommended due to its potential nature of being a lymphatic organ? Also, is it true people with a removed appendix have a higher chance of getting chron's disease?

I don't want to face the risk of my appendix bursting in the future so I rather have it out then be paranoid my whole life.

zhermes

That is ridiculous. You should not get your appendix removed because you're worried about it sometime becoming inflamed. People in non-3rd world countries (virtually) never die of appendicitis.

Recent studies are showing that the appendix does have functions, although non-vital ones. Generally, you should hold on to any part of your body that you don't imminently need to remove.

Proton Soup

maybe talk to someone about the paranoia. even if the appendix were gone, some other fear might replace it.

ChrisJesMD

Don't have an appendectomy unless you actually have to, the appendix, even if not vital, is still present for a reason.
Being Internal and not surgical, I am as a rule opposed to any surgical procedures that are not strictly necesary.

Christopher Jespersen
MD