How long does it take to recover after surgery for acute appendicitis?

How long it takes to recover from surgery for acute appendicitis depends on the individual patient's condition and can vary significantly. Recovery may be fast in some cases and slow in others. Details are as follows:

1. Fast recovery

In cases of early-stage appendicitis, if the patient is generally healthy with strong immunity and undergoes laparoscopic surgery, recovery usually takes about 3–5 days. The patient can then be discharged and continue recuperating at home. It is recommended that patients enhance their nutrition after surgery to promote healing and begin getting out of bed as early as possible to stimulate gastrointestinal motility and prevent intestinal adhesions.

2. Slow recovery

Recovery tends to be slower in elderly patients or those with underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, bronchitis, heart disease, or anemia. If postoperative complications such as infection or intestinal fistula occur, recovery will also be delayed. The exact recovery time depends on the severity of these complications.

It should be noted that postoperative recovery from acute appendicitis varies greatly among individuals and depends on the patient’s overall health status, the extent of inflammation before surgery, and the complexity of the procedure. If any discomfort or unusual symptoms occur, patients should seek timely medical attention to avoid delays in treatment.