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General Information Only: This article provides general educational information. It does not replace a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. Every patient’s situation is different. Please consult your GP and Dr Kaushal directly for advice specific to your circumstances. In a medical emergency, call 000. |
Appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal surgical emergencies in Australia — affecting approximately 70,000 Australians each year. It can occur at any age but is most common in people aged 10 to 30 years. For Camden and Macarthur region families, knowing the symptoms and understanding when to act is essential.
Dr Devesh Kaushal is an upper GI and general surgeon who performs laparoscopic appendicectomy (keyhole appendix removal) and operates at Campbelltown Public and Campbelltown Private Hospitals — the facilities closest to Camden for emergency and elective abdominal surgery.
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Nearest Rooms to Camden: 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown NSW 2560 Appointments available — contact the rooms to discuss current availability | Book online at drdeveshkaushal.com.au | Call (02) 7906 8312 |
What Is the Appendix and Why Does It Become Inflamed?
The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine in the lower right abdomen. It has no clearly defined essential function in adults, but can become obstructed — usually by hardened stool, mucus, or lymph node swelling from infection — and subsequently infected and inflamed.
Once inflamed, the appendix swells and fills with pus. Without treatment, it may rupture — leaking infected material into the abdominal cavity and causing peritonitis, a life-threatening infection. This is why prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment are important.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
Appendicitis typically progresses through a recognisable sequence of symptoms — though not every patient follows this pattern exactly:
Stage | Symptoms |
Early (hours 1–6) | Central or poorly localised abdominal pain. Loss of appetite. Nausea — sometimes vomiting. |
Developing (6–12h) | Pain shifts to the right lower abdomen (McBurney’s point — one third of the way from the right hip bone to the belly button). Pain worsens with movement, coughing, and deep breathing. |
Established | Right lower abdominal pain becomes constant and severe. Fever develops (usually 37.5–38.5°C). Rebound tenderness — pain on release of pressure. Rigidity of abdominal muscles. |
Perforation risk | If untreated, the appendix may rupture — causing a sudden brief relief of pain followed by spreading abdominal pain, high fever, and deterioration. This is a surgical emergency. |
⚠ Go to Campbelltown Hospital Emergency NOW if you have: • Right lower abdominal pain that is constant, severe, and worsening • Fever with abdominal pain • Nausea and vomiting with abdominal pain • Rebound tenderness — pain on release of pressure on the abdomen Do not wait for a GP appointment. Appendicitis is a surgical emergency. Call 000 if symptoms are severe. |
How Appendicitis Is Diagnosed
- Clinical assessment: Right lower abdominal tenderness, guarding, fever, and rebound tenderness on examination are key findings.
- Blood tests: Elevated white blood cell count (WBC) indicates infection. C-reactive protein (CRP) is usually raised.
- Ultrasound: Can identify an inflamed appendix, particularly in children and younger patients. Less reliable in adults if the appendix is not directly visualised.
- CT scan: The most accurate imaging investigation for appendicitis in adults. Shows appendix size, inflammation, and any perforation or abscess formation.
Differential diagnosis: Several conditions can mimic appendicitis, including ovarian pathology, kidney stones, urinary tract infection, Crohn’s disease, mesenteric adenitis, and gastroenteritis. Clinical assessment and imaging help distinguish these conditions — this is why a formal medical assessment rather than self-diagnosis is always essential.
Pathological examination: The appendix is routinely sent for pathological examination after removal to confirm the diagnosis and exclude unexpected findings, including rare tumours of the appendix that would not otherwise be identified.
Laparoscopic Appendicectomy: What Happens
The standard surgical treatment for appendicitis is laparoscopic (keyhole) appendicectomy — removal of the appendix through small incisions under general anaesthesia.
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General Anaesthetic — Completely Asleep
You are placed under general anaesthesia. The procedure is performed at Campbelltown Public Hospital (emergency) or Campbelltown Private Hospital.
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Three Small Cuts
Three small incisions (5–10mm) are made in the abdomen. A laparoscope (camera) is inserted through one incision. The appendix is identified and its condition assessed.
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Appendix Is Removed
The base of the appendix is stapled or tied off and divided. The appendix is placed in a bag and removed through one of the small incisions. In cases of perforation, the abdomen may be washed out.
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Home Usually Within 24–48 Hours
Most patients go home within 24 to 48 hours of laparoscopic appendicectomy. More complex cases — particularly perforated appendicitis with peritonitis — require a longer admission. Return to normal activity typically within 2 to 4 weeks.
FAQ — Appendicitis Camden
Can appendicitis be treated without surgery?
In selected cases of uncomplicated appendicitis (no perforation, no abscess), antibiotic treatment alone may be considered as a short-term measure. However, recurrence rates are significant, and surgery remains the definitive treatment for most patients. Your treating surgeon will discuss the most appropriate approach based on your clinical presentation.
Which hospital do Camden residents go to for appendicitis?
For emergency appendicitis, Camden and Macarthur region residents present to Campbelltown Hospital Emergency — the closest major emergency facility. Dr Kaushal has operating privileges at Campbelltown Public and Private Hospitals.
Book a Surgical Consultation Near Camden
For non-emergency abdominal surgical assessment near Camden — including right lower abdominal pain that has resolved, or persistent or recurrent right lower abdominal pain after assessment by your GP — contact Dr Kaushal’s rooms for a consultation at Campbelltown.
Contact Dr Devesh Kaushal
Nearest Rooms to Camden: 4 Hyde Parade, Campbelltown NSW 2560
Phone: (02) 7906 8312
Email: [email protected]
Book Online: drdeveshkaushal.com.au
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Operating at: Sydney Southwest Private Hospital Liverpool | Campbelltown Public Hospital | Campbelltown Private Hospital | The George Hospital
Appointments available — contact the rooms to discuss current availability | Book online 24/7 | Medicare & Private Health Insurance Accepted
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