Most patients with early appendicitis will go home the same day of the surgery or the next day. While some swelling, bruising and minor discomfort around the surgical incisions can be expected, Rodriguez says most people are able to walk and eat after surgery, and are back to work or school within a week.
Newer studies have shown recurrence rates of appendicitis in patients treated with antibiotics may be higher than what were initially thought, but Rodriguez says it is still a safe alternative to surgery in certain instances. Other Common Questions Concerning the Appendix. Why do we have an appendix? The entire digestive tract helps with our immune system, but some scientists and doctors think the appendix may be a place for our body to store certain healthy types of gut bacteria that otherwise could be altered or changed during an intestinal illness or with overuse of antibiotics.
The theory is that the good bacteria can hide in the appendix and then help repopulate the rest of the colon with healthy bacteria if things ever get unbalanced. I heard that people who get their appendix removed are more likely to have their gallbladder removed — is that true? This is not true. The appendix and gallbladder are separate organs with separate functions.
People may think this because a lot of people have had their appendix or gallbladder out. As a result, the appendix, once regarded as a nonfunctional tissue, is now regarded as an important 'back-up' that can be used in a variety of reconstructive surgical techniques.
It is no longer routinely removed and discarded if it is healthy. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Go Paperless with Digital. Smith, William Parker, Sanet H. Morphological evolution of the mammalian cecum and cecal appendix. ScienceDaily, 9 January Midwestern University.
Appendix may have important function, new research suggests. Retrieved November 11, from www. The findings solidify Researchers have gotten one step closer to creating such a 'synthetic ScienceDaily shares links with sites in the TrendMD network and earns revenue from third-party advertisers, where indicated.
The infection or obstruction causes the bacteria in the appendix to grow out of control, and the organ can fill with pus and swell. Appendicitis causes intense abdominal pain and other GI symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. Removal of the appendix an appendectomy is often the necessary course of action, though increasingly, antibiotics may be recommended and used to treat the infection without the need for surgical intervention — depending on the severity of the case and other health factors in the individual patient.
If the problem is left untreated, the pressure in the organ will increase until the appendix ruptures , or bursts. When the appendix bursts, it spreads its content throughout the abdomen, potentially infecting the peritoneum, which is the silk-like membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
A peritoneum infection, called peritonitis , can then lead to sepsis , a complication that's potentially deadly if not treated aggressively. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: May 30, Medically Reviewed. The role of the appendix has long been something of a mystery, but some experts now believe they've discovered its function. The 'Safe House' Theory of the Appendix Some scientists now believe the appendix is not useless after all, and may help our guts recover after a gastrointestinal disease strikes.
Sources of blockage include, among other things: Hard pieces of stool Parasites or intestinal worms Ingested objects, including air gun pellets and pins Abdominal trauma GI tract ulcers Enlarged appendix lymphatic tissue The infection or obstruction causes the bacteria in the appendix to grow out of control, and the organ can fill with pus and swell.
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