Surgeons Remove Man's Appendix Through His Mouth

by Steph02 | April 16, 2008 at 06:26 pm | 249 views | 1 comment

Day 48 - as if the appendix wasn't enough

The world’s first appendectomy removal has happened, through a man’s mouth! The patient was able to return to work just after two days, and only suffered a minor sore throat. From a personal perspective, I wish they had this procedure when I had my appendix removed. I remember being so sore I couldn’t even change my own bandages. I ended up with three scars from the surgery; this patient has none.

Surgeons have removed a man's appendix through his mouth, in a world first.

The patient, a former US marine, suffered no ill effects other than a sore throat and will not have a scar.

Remarkably, he was well enough to return to work two days after groundbreaking operation - and to do sit-ups a day later.

Doctors in San Diego, California, used a flexible tube to thread miniature surgical instruments down the man's throat to his stomach.

A tiny incision was then made in the stomach wall to get at the appendix - a small worm-like pouch attached to the large bowel.

The inflamed appendix was cut away, bagged up and pulled back into the stomach - and out of the mouth.

Patient Jeff Scholtz, 42, was discharged from the University of San Diego Medical Centre within 17 hours and was back at work a day later.

Describing his rapid recovery, Mr Scholtz said: "They told me to take it easy but I felt great.

"I was eating pizza and doing sit-ups three days later.