Appendix Removal: What Happens If You Don’t Do It in Time?

July 1, 2025

Appendix Removal: What Happens If You Don’t Do It in Time?

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
01 July, 2025

The appendix is a finger shaped organ that projects off of the large intestine and is located deep inside the abdomen, to the right side. It has long been thought to be a vestigial organ- something which was useful for our ancestors systems, but not so much at present. Studies have shown that the appendix has well developed lymphoid tissue inside, which means it can get inflamed because of an infection and may play some kind of role in immunity, though we may not be aware of it. When the appendix gets inflamed, it can get blocked and can burst, spewing digestive juices, waste and bacteria into the blood and causing a septic reaction in the body, which can be dangerous or even fatal, if not immediately managed.

What Causes The Appendix To Burst?

The lining of the appendix is pretty thin, considering it is pretty small in size. It can get blocked due to tumours, infections or even hardened faecal matter, which will cause the inflammation to rupture the appendix itself, due to build up of bacterium, pus or even poor or cut off blood supply to the organ. The infection and subsequent inflammation is termed ‘appendicitis’. For some people, surgical removal is not always needed. Instead, a dose of antibiotics alone may be enough to clear up a mild infection.

Symptoms Of A Ruptured Appendix You Should Never Ignore

The rupture of the appendix is never sudden and it is always preceded by symptoms, which are like a warning sign for you. So, let us look at what they can be-

If you notice a fever and severe abdominal pain that does not seem to get better – The pain is mostly concentrated on the below right part of your abdomen, near your belly button and it only gets much worse if you move or cough.
Loss of appetite
Change in bowel habits and schedule
Nausea and vomiting
Your abdomen may look bloated or feel very tender and painful

Rush to a hospital nearby, without any delay. They can check how inflamed your appendix is and determine if it needs to be removed immediately or not.

What Happens If You Don’t Remove An Inflamed Appendix?

If you are lucky, the agent that is causing the blockage in the appendix may go away and your symptoms may subside. But, if that does not happen, then there is a high danger of rupture- which can spew bacteria, stool or other substances into your abdomen and blood, causing peritonitis or even severe sepsis in some cases. If you ignore the initial symptoms and don’t get timely treatment done, then you risk developing complications.

Conclusion

If you don’t treat appendicitis right away, you risk sepsis and other infections. Appendectomy or the surgical removal of the affected appendix is a gold standard in treatment and works very well in the long run. The removal can be done using laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is generally minimally invasive and hence you will recover sooner and will have smaller scars, but it may not be advisable for everyone. This is why open surgery is another option, though you will take longer to heal and there may be surgery related complications too- if you don’t take good care of the incision site and keep it clean. Never ignore symptoms of a ruptured appendix and get help ASAP!

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you don’t remove an infected appendix in time??

A ruptured appendix can cause sepsis or inflammation of the abdominal lining, called peritonitis and even cause infections elsewhere in the body. So, prompt removal of an infected appendix needs to be a priority.

How long can you wait before removing an inflamed appendix?

Surgery won’t be done unless the diagnosis is accurate, but if you have had alarming symptoms like severe pain in the below right part of your abdomen, along with a fever, then a doctor may suspect a ruptured or inflamed appendix and suggest immediate surgery. A maximum window of around 24 hours is possible, before surgery becomes absolutely necessary. In this interval, you may be given antibiotics and may be assessed.

Is a ruptured appendix considered a medical emergency?

Yes, it is and it needs to be surgically removed, as soon as possible to prevent further complications from occurring.

How painful is a burst appendix compared to regular appendicitis?

You will have severe abdominal pain when you have appendicitis alone and it may feel like you have gotten better for a bit, immediately after rupture. But, the pain will return with a vengeance and you will feel much worse than before, because you will have more widespread pain and related symptoms.

Can appendicitis go away on its own without surgery?

For mild cases, antibiotics alone may be enough but you will be monitored constantly, to make sure it is just that. If the substance causing the blockage in the appendix goes away, then inflammation may resolve on its own too. But, this rarely happens.