24/7 Care and Surgery for Acute Appendicitis
Sudden pain around the navel or abdomen may be a sign of appendicitis. Timely medical attention is crucial to prevent serious complications such as a ruptured appendix.
Dr. Tan Chun Hai
Dual Fellowship-Trained Surgeon,
Minimally Invasive Appendix Surgery Specialist
MBBS (Melbourne), Masters of Medicine (Surgery), FRCS (Edinburgh), FAMS (General Surgery)
Table of Content
Introduction
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis refers to the inflammation or infection of the appendix. The appendix is a finger-shaped pouch that sticks out from the large intestine, located at the lower right part of your abdomen.
In cases of an acute appendicitis, the condition becomes a medical emergency. An immediate surgery, removing the appendix, would then be required to prevent it from rupturing.
Why is Appendicitis Generally Considered a Medical Emergency?
An acute appendicitis is a sudden and severe inflammation of the appendix. As it can progress quickly, an acute appendicitis can cause the appendix to rupture within 48 to 72 hours, if left untreated.
When the appendix ruptures, it will release infected material throughout the abdomen and cause a serious infection known as peritonitis. Further complications include the occurrence of sepsis (the body’s extreme response to an infection), which is life-threatening.
Hence to prevent such complications, an immediate surgery is warranted to remove the appendix and clean the infection out of the abdominal cavity.
What Causes Appendicitis?
- Viral or bacterial infection in the digestive tract - Causing the appendix to swell and fill with pus
- Trapped stools or bacterial blockage of the appendix - Leading to inflammation and swelling
- Presence of tumors in the area (both benign, or non-cancerous, and cancerous tumors)
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Trauma to the abdomen
Symptoms of Appendicitis
- Sharp pain on the right side of the lower abdomen
- Sharp pain that begins from the navel and shifts to the right side of the lower abdomen
- Abdominal swelling
- Nausea and vomiting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- High fever
If you suspect appendicitis, seek immediate evaluation and care from our surgeon.
For emergencies after clinic hours, WhatsApp us > head to Gleneagles Urgent Care centre (UCC) > and request for Dr. Tan Chun Hai.
Overview
What is the Treatment for Appendicitis?
In most cases, surgery is necessary to remove the appendix, especially if there is a risk of rupture.
An appendectomy is a common and safe procedure carried out to remove the appendix. The surgery takes around an hour and can be performed laparoscopically (minimally invasive) or through open surgery, depending on the severity of the condition.
Before the procedure, antibiotics may be given to manage infection. If the appendix has ruptured, the surgery may also involve draining abscesses and cleaning the abdominal cavity to prevent further complications.
Recovery is generally quick and smooth, with most patients discharged within a few hours to a couple of days. With proper care, patients can resume normal activities within a few weeks.
Adjusting and Recovering from an Appendectomy
Patients generally go on to resume normal lives after having their appendix removed. While some studies suggest that the appendix may help store beneficial gut bacteria, its removal does not typically lead to any long-term health issues.
Although the appendix may play a role in gut health, particularly after gastrointestinal infections, the risk of a ruptured appendix is far greater. Undergoing an appendectomy typically doesn’t cause any long-term issues.
Keyhole Surgery Expertise
An appendectomy can be carried out through open surgery or a minimally invasive way known as laparoscopic, or keyhole, appendectomy. Whereas an open surgery requires long incisions made in the abdomen, laparoscopic surgery only requires small incisions and is carried out with the use of specialised keyhole instruments.
Because the procedure is less invasive, keyhole surgery offers the advantage of promoting less post-operative pain, shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery period. At Surgicare, Dr. Tan specialises in keyhole surgery for surgical repairs when necessary and suitable.
20+ Years of Clinical Experience
Dr. Tan Chun Hai (陈俊海医生)
Upper Gastrointestinal, Bariatric & General Surgeon
Endoscopy & Minimally-Invasive Surgery Specialist
Dr. Tan Chun Hai is a dual fellowship-trained specialist in Laparoscopic (keyhole) Stomach Cancer Surgery and Bariatric & Metabolic Surgery. He is proficient in minimally invasive surgical techniques, treating conditions such as gallstones, appendicitis, GERD, and upper gastrointestinal cancers of the stomach and oesophagus.
In addition to his surgical expertise, Dr Tan specialises in performing endoscopies and managing a wide range of digestive disorders. These include abdominal pain, bloating, heartburn and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
When applicable, Dr. Tan provides same-day treatment within a few hours of diagnosis. Dr. Tan subscribes to a less invasive practice, promoting less postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays.
Have a digestive health concern?
Send us your enquiry or give us a call at 6250 5610
For emergencies after hours, send us a text via WhatsApp > head to Gleneagles Urgent Care Centre and request for Dr. Tan Chun Hai
Our Clinic: 6A Napier Road, Gleneagles Hospital Annexe Block, #05-36A, Singapore 258500
Patient Information
Frequently Asked Questions
According to MOH’s fee benchmarks, the cost of appendicitis surgery (appendectomy) in Singapore ranges from SGD 4,700 to SGD 7,500 (before GST). This estimate includes the surgeon’s fees only and does not cover hospital charges or consumables.
In-clinic consultations with our doctor start from SGD 200 (before GST), with after-hours rates varying.
Please note that these figures are estimates; the final bill may vary based on the specific procedures required and the complexity of the case.
As appendicitis surgery is assigned a surgical code, it may qualify for insurance or Medisave subsidies.
For more information about the cost of your procedure, please contact our clinic for assistance.
If you have any of the symptoms of appendicitis listed above, you should see a specialist right away. An appendicitis is a medical emergency that should be treated as quickly as possible.
If you suspect that you have appendicitis, call us at 6250 5610
For emergencies after hours, send us a text via WhatsApp > Head to Gleneagles Urgent Care Centre > and request for Dr. Tan Chun Hai.
An appendicitis can be diagnosed through several ways. One could be a clinical examination by a doctor. Pressure is applied to the right lower abdomen to check for pain and tenderness.
A CT scan is the most common and accurate way to diagnose appendicitis. It gives a clear picture of a swollen appendix, indicating an appendicitis, or fluids in the abdomen if the appendix has ruptured.
Alternatively, your doctor may order for an ultrasound when diagnosing children or pregnant women, avoiding exposure to radiation.
If the appendix has burst and infection has spread throughout the abdomen, immediate surgery will be required to remove the appendix and clean out the abdominal cavity.
In a scenario where a ruptured appendix has lead to the development of a pocket of infection, called an abcess, your surgeon would drain out the abcess and put you on antibiotics to clear the infecton.
An appendectomy is carried out at a later date once the infection is under control. In some cases, your surgeon may immediately remove your appendix after the abscess is drained.
Right after surgery you will be left to rest in the hospital while nurses monitor your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and respiration. Your wound and level of post-operative pain will also be observed and you may be given painkillers to cope.
An uncomplicated appendectomy should allow you to get out of bed quite soon after the surgery and enable you to be discharged in a couple of days.
The recovery time if you’ve had laparoscopic appendectomy is about 1 to 3 weeks until you will probably be able to return to a normal routine, and 2 to 4 weeks if you had open surgery.
Yes, you can use your health insurance plan or Medisave to subsidise the cost of appendicitis surgery, as it is assigned a surgical code.
Our clinic can support you with pre-approvals, claims, and any required documentation to ease the process.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or consult your insurance provider for detailed guidance.
