How Much Does an Appendicitis Surgery Cost

There are various causes attributed to appendicitis. Most often than not, people would think that the appendicitis can be taken for granted. And although there are patients whose condition can be treated using oral antibiotics, there are also severe cases where patients may have to undergo appendectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove your appendix. Failure to do so can result in appendix rupture which can cause further complications. If you are undergoing this procedure, you want to know how much it costs. How much does appendicitis surgery cost?

What’s Appendectomy

It’s a surgical procedure where the appendix is removed. It is performed to treat appendicitis which is an inflammation of the appendix. The appendix is a small shaped pouch located at the lower part of the abdomen. Once you see any symptom, it is important that you seek treatment right away to avoid your appendix from rupturing.

If you are suffering from appendicitis, you may experience stomach pain and it spread to the right side of your abdomen. People with appendicitis may also experience diarrhea/constipation, rigid muscles and swelling of abdomen. Other symptoms include nausea, loss of appetite, fever and vomiting.

Appendicitis Surgery Cost

How much does appendicitis surgery cost? The appendicitis surgery cost would vary depending on the coverage of your health insurance policy. If your insurance covers the cost, the costs you will have to pay include doctor copay, prescription drug copay and even copay for hospital and emergency room copay. The hospital copay cost is about $100 or even more.

If you do not have a health insurance that gives this type of coverage, you can expect a much more expensive appendectomy cost. The surgery process costs ranging from $10,000 to $35,000. The cost could even be more depending on the facility. The cost would depend as to whether the procedure is laparoscopic or open. If there are complications, the appendectomy cost is also a higher. At Wright Medical Center located in Iowa, the cost of this surgery with no complications using an open operation, the cost is about $7,900. The cost includes a doctor fee.

Additional Costs and Discounts

Aside from the actual cost of the surgical procedure, there are also additional costs that you may have to shoulder. For instance, you have to pay for the diagnosis cost. If you undergo a CT scan or an ultrasound, you may have to shoulder an additional cost of $1,000. You also have to take antibiotics which can cost you about $150 depending on the prescription of your doctor.

The good thing is that you can also enjoy discounts. There are hospitals that provide discounts to about 40% to people who are not insured. For instance, the Washington Hospital Healthcare System gives 35% discount. There are also cases where the appendicitis can be cured using oral antibiotics in which case there is no need for a surgical procedure.

Things to Consider

When searching for a provider that provides this surgical procedure, there are some things that you have to consider. First, you have to undergo the right diagnosis. Watch out for the signs and symptoms that are stated above this article. If you experience severe pain, you should see a doctor right away.

There are various hospitals and facilities that conduct appendectomy. You can ask your family physician for a referral. You can also find information provided by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery.

The appendicitis surgery price may vary since each person has different needs and health circumstances. But one thing is for sure, if ever you are starting to experience the signs and symptoms, you are more likely to undergo such procedure especially if the symptoms are already severe. The appendicitis surgery price may be expensive. The good thing is that after the surgery, you no longer have to experience any of the signs and symptoms. Plus, you can avoid any rupture.

How to Prepare for an Appendectomy

Not all who have appendicitis need to undergo a surgery. Most of the operations are considered to be emergency surgeries. The patient has to follow all of the given instructions by the surgeon. For instance,if your surgeon tells you not to eat certain kinds of food then you have to obey what the surgeon asks you to do. There are also cases where patients have to use certain medications in order to eliminate vomiting and also nausea. Your doctor may also have to prescribe the use of antibiotics prior to the surgery.

How is the surgery performed? It is done inside the operating room. The patient’s skin is shaved and to prevent infection, germ killing solution is swabbed on the skin. There are two different methods and techniques used to remove the appendix: the laparospic and the open method. With the open method, it uses a 2 to 3 in. incision. This is used in the lower right side of the abdomen in order to remove the appendix. On the other hand, laparospic utilizes small incisions and it uses a laparoscope to see and remove the appendix.

The recovery time of this surgical procedure would vary. It depends on the procedure, the anesthesia use and if there are any complications. For an open method, it may require the patient stay even longer. Patients who have undergone the surgical treatment will have to wait to fully recover which is about 4 to 6 weeks. During the recovery period, it is advised that you avoid doing any strenuous activities.

Risks and Complications

There are also risks and complications. The common complication is the wound infection. So, make sure that you follow every instruction that the doctor tells you. Another complication includes the formation of abscess. Other risks and complications include peritonitis, bowel movement problem and injuries to internal organs.