"Child has healthy their appendix removed without ultrasound check"

What Happened:

* My child (who is less than 10 years old) had acute pain in their stomach at night and to double-check it was not too serious, they were taken to Bunbury ED.

* About 4 hours later, my child went through to be seen by a doctor.  

* Initially they were informed that an ultrasound would be used to check if it was appendicitis or if it were swollen lymph nodes.  

* Hours later a new doctor arrived with 4 others behind them and stated that my child will have the operation, and there was no need for an ultrasound. The doctor requested that the operation be open surgery. My partner noted at the time some seemingly surprised looks from the other 4 onlooking staff, but none said anything.  

* The next morning, my child was admitted to the children's ward.

* Going into surgery, my child, although extremely hungry and tired,  was showing their happy side, laughing with the staff and playing jokes.  It was noted by many that my child did not appear to be unwell.  

* Just before surgery, one of the surgeons saw the report and stated that we do not do open surgery for this procedure we do keyhole - so thankful (in a sense) that my child was not carved open.

* After the keyhole surgery, they were moved back to the children's ward in the afternoon.

* About 2 hours later, the doctor came to inform us that it appears the appendix was not damaged, but they were extremely pleased to tell us repeatedly that the good news is that my child cannot now have appendicitis. The doctor stated that the issue was most likely Lymph nodes and not to worry because these heal by themselves without any medication required (so of course a person wonders why did my child go through the operation?)!

* My child is of course now extremely tender and unable to participate in many upcoming events in the next fortnight and battling to understand why this has taken place without evidence of it needing to be done. 

My Feelings: 

* Thankful - Firstly all the nursing staff and the surgeons we saw at Bunbury Hospital are extremely polite, helpful and make, in my opinion, any child's stay at the hospital the best it can be under any circumstances.  So on that view, I feel extremely pleased and fortunate to have a hospital such as this so close to our residence.

* Confusion - Not being a person of medicine myself, but hearing from many staff both before and after the operation from within the hospital that the normal procedure is to first have an ultrasound and it not taking place makes me of course ponder the question: "Would an ultra-sound have given the doctors a clearer indication as to whether or not surgery was required?"

* Anger - That I feel deep inside that although many who know more than I about the procedure and were present at the time did not speak up and help us (unknowing patients) to avoid a child going through such a long and painful, unnecessary process. 

* Sadness - at seeing my child go through this ordeal where it could possibly have been prevented. To see them now in such pain. 

I would dearly like to have some answers to ease my feelings on the matter. 

Kind regards