An appendectomy is surgery to remove your child's appendix, a small organ attached to the large intestine.

It's the main treatment for appendicitis.

That's when your child's appendix becomes infected or inflamed.

If the inflamed appendix isn't removed, it may burst, which can cause even more serious health problems.

If your child's appendix has burst, the doctor may do emergency surgery right away to remove it and the area will be cleaned and checked for problems.

Before the surgery, medicine will be given to help your child go to sleep.

An appendectomy is usually done as a laparoscopic surgery, which uses only a few small cuts, or incisions.

The doctor puts thin tubes, a lighted scope, and other surgical tools through the small cuts in your child's belly.

The belly is inflated slightly with air.

That helps create room for the doctor to operate.

The doctor can see inside the belly by using the scope.

The tools are used to remove the appendix.

The doctor closes the cuts with stitches, staples, or small pieces of special tape.

The cuts will heal quickly.

And the scars usually fade over time.

In some cases, an appendectomy is done through one larger cut in the belly, which usually takes longer to heal.

It's called open surgery.

No matter how the surgery is done, it will help your child get better and feel well again.