Yes, appendix pain can return after an appendectomy through a rare condition called stump appendicitis. It happens when a piece of the appendix is left behind at the first operation and later becomes inflamed, giving the same right-sided pain as before. It can show up weeks later or many years on. Because the patient has “had their appendix out”, doctors sometimes overlook it, and diagnosis gets delayed. A CT scan usually settles it, and the treatment is surgery to remove the remaining stump.
According to Dr. Rajeev Premnath, a General and Laparoscopic Surgeon in Banglore, “Patients and sometimes doctors dismiss the pain because the appendix is already gone. If the pain, tenderness and fever look like the first attack, the history of an earlier appendectomy shouldn’t close the question. A CT scan is how we decide. And the operation itself is usually keyhole, as it was the first time.”
Why Does Stump Appendicitis Happen?
If you’d like to learn how appendicitis is generally assessed and treated, our appendix treatment page covers it.
How Is Stump Appendicitis Recognised and Confirmed?
For what recovery after the operation, how long you stay in hospital, when you can return to work, and what to avoid in the first few weeks, see our blog on appendix surgery recovery.
What Determines the Right Treatment Approach?
Once the scan and the examination have been reviewed together, the plan is usually clear. Most patients recover well, and delay in diagnosis is the main thing that makes it worse, which our blog on what happens when appendix surgery gets delayed explains in more detail.
Key Takeaways
- Stump appendicitis is rare, but it can happen after the appendix is removed
- It occurs when a piece of appendix is left behind
- It can appear weeks or many years later
- A past appendectomy shouldn’t rule it out
- CT scan confirms it, and surgery removes the stump
- The scan and the patient’s condition decide between keyhole and open surgery
Right-sided belly pain after your appendix was removed?
FAQs
Can you get appendicitis after your appendix is removed?
Rarely. If a piece of the appendix was left behind, it can become inflamed later.
How common is stump appendicitis?
Very rare, and most people who have had an appendectomy will never get it.
How is stump appendicitis diagnosed?
Mainly with a CT scan, together with the symptoms and examination.
Does stump appendicitis need surgery?
Yes. The remaining stump is removed, and antibiotics are given alongside.