Auto-appendicectomy refers to the self-removal of one's own appendix. Documented cases are rare and historically span elective hospital-based self-experimentation, wartime isolation, and polar expedition medicine. Reported anecdotes describe operations conducted under local anesthesia with the operator performing or directing the procedure in suboptimal conditions, facing challenges such as limited exposure, fatigue, sterile field concerns, and the need for assistive aid. Notable cases include: Evan O’Neill Kane, who performed a self-appendicectomy in a hospital setting to advocate major surgery under local infiltration; Leonid Rogozov, who carried out a self-operation at a remote Antarctic station during a blizzard when evacuation was impossible; and Robert Kerr “Jock” McLaren, described in biographical sources as having conducted a self- or assisted-appendicectomy under improvised conditions behind enemy lines. There is uncertainty and inconsistency in secondary reports regarding exact techniques, anesthesia, extent of self-performed dissection, and completeness of excision; no contemporaneous primary surgical report is universally corroborated. The phenomenon is best regarded as a historical curiosity at the intersection of anatomy, anesthesia, and extreme circumstances.
Auto-appendicectomy (auto-appendectomy) is the surgical removal of one’s own appendix. The term sits within the broader realm of self-operation (auto-chirurgy) where a clinician performs a procedure on themselves, typically under local anaesthesia, out of necessity or a desire to demonstrate feasibility.
In appendicitis, self-operation is rare, but has been documented in three high-profile cases that span elective self-experimentation in a hospital, wartime isolation, and polar expedition medicine.
Self-appendicectomy is best understood as an intersection of anatomy, anaesthesia, and circumstance. Appendicectomy is “doable” under local infiltration, but the operator faces the constraints of limited exposure and orientation, fatigue, sterile field, and the practical requirement for assistants who can be directed to retract, light, and sometimes close.
Evan O’Neill Kane (1861-1932), country surgeon and railway accident specialist performed a self-appendicectomy under local anaesthesia in a hospital setting. Kane published the case to support “major” surgery under local infiltration.
Kane describes a history of chronic appendicitis, minimal prep (“one day’s starvation” and oil), walking to hospital, premedication with morphine, then announcing (to everyone’s alarm) that he would perform the operation himself. He positioned himself semi-sitting with the table head raised, pillows under his shoulders, a foot brace to flex hips/knees, and had the anaesthetist push his head forward so he could see the field.
Robert Kerr “Jock” McLaren (1902–1956) (Mindanao / Borneo). Australian commando whose reported self-appendicectomy occurred while operating behind enemy lines. The story survives primarily through biographical accounts rather than a contemporary medical report.
Accounts describe McLaren becoming progressively unwell while moving between guerrilla positions and concluding he had appendicitis with no prospect of evacuation. He is variously described as having veterinary training and as taking charge of the operation when no surgeon was available. A makeshift set-up is described (improvised table, basic instruments), with no general anaesthetic and (in the best-known version) mirror guidance to visualise the wound.
Reported conduct of the operation: a right lower quadrant incision (with a razor) is described, with progressive opening of the abdominal wall (utilising blunt dissecvtion with two spoons…). Identification and removal of a ruptured appendix, followed by closure using improvised materials (including “jungle/banana fibre”). Duration is commonly given as several hours (often ~4–5 hours).
Historical caution: later reporting is inconsistent on key points (exact location, whether he performed the excision himself versus directing others, and the degree of assistance). Best presented as a remarkable reported self-operation with disputed procedural details , supported by later narrative sources rather than a primary surgical case report.
Leonid Ivanovich Rogozov (1934-2000). Sole doctor at Novolazarevskaya Station who performed a self-appendicectomy under local anaesthesia during a blizzard when evacuation was impossible. His 1962 first-person account was later published in English translation.
DM (UWA), BM (Indiana), FMusA, LMusA. Resident Medical Officer, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Basic Surgical Streaming Program. Professional violinist, now aspiring surgeon. Loves music, opera, and operating.
BA MA (Oxon) MBChB (Edin) FACEM FFSEM. Emergency physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Passion for rugby; medical history; medical education; and asynchronous learning #FOAMed evangelist. Co-founder and CTO of Life in the Fast lane | On Call: Principles and Protocol 4e | Eponyms | Books |
Remember when america was impressed when president Nixon went to china in 1972 and saw surgery with acupuncture? Acupuncture was complemented with local anesthesia and parenteral opioids. So just goes to show acupuncture may have contributed nothing at all.
#mc_embed_signup { background: #fff; clear: left; font: 14px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; } #mc-embedded-subscribe-form input[type=checkbox] { display: inline; width: auto; margin-right: 10px; } #mergeRow-gdpr { margin-top: 20px; } #mergeRow-gdpr fieldset label { font-weight: normal; } #mc-embedded-subscribe-form .mc_fieldset { border: none; min-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; } Unlock exclusive content and resources. Sign up for our newsletter today! First Name * Email Address * Agree to our Privacy Policy Weekly newsletter --> Educational videos Handy PDF downloads Inspirational quotes Clinical pearls And so much more! #mc_embed_signup { border: 1px #ccc solid; width: 100%; } #mc_embed_signup #mc_embed_signup_scroll h3 { font-size: 18px; } #mergeRow-gdpr .content__gdpr label { font-weight: bold; } #mergeRow-gdpr div.content__gdpr fieldset { padding: 0; margin-bottom: 21px; } #mergeRow-gdpr div.content__gdpr p.unsubscribe { font-size: 12px; } #mergeRow-gdpr div.content__gdprLegal { font-size: 12px; } #mergeRow-gdpr div.content__gdprLegal a { color: #0752f4; } ul.mm_newsletter_features { list-style: none; } ul.mm_newsletter_features > li { } ul.mm_newsletter_features > li:before { content: '\2713'; margin: 0 10px 0 0; } #mc-embedded-subscribe.button { line-height: unset; min-height: unset; height: 35px; width: 100%; background: var(--buttonInitialColor); text-transform: uppercase; } #mergeRow-gdpr { margin: 0; padding: 0; } #mergeRow-gdpr > div > fieldset { margin: 0; } #mc-embedded-subscribe.button { background: #f9cc39; color: #334e68; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 20px; } #mc-embedded-subscribe.button:hover { background: #fbe065; color: #334e68; }