Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's surgery to have his appendix removed Wednesday night was a success, however he will be staying at the Queensway Carleton Hospital "for a few more days due to minor complications," his spokesperson said Thursday.

Watson left after chairing the budget portion of Wednesday's council meeting because he was experiencing "significant pain," the mayor's chief of staff, Serge Arpin, later informed councillors in an email.

Arpin had already said Wednesday Watson will be away from City Hall for several days.

Watson was sidelined from his duties for just over four weeks in 2015 after breaking his pelvis in a snowmobile mishap.