The appendix is a wormlike organ attached to the first part of your colon. It serves no purpose except as a small immune organ as an infant. It is located usually in the right lower quadrant of your abdomen.
A piece of stool or small object like a seed can become stuck in the appendix. The appendix starts to swell and become inflammed. This is termed "appendicitis."
Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, low grade fever, and poor appetite associated with right lower quadrant pain. The pain usually starts off as a vague "ache" in the belly button area and the moves toward the right lower quadrant. The pain worsens in a "snowballing" fashion.
Seek medical attention if you have right lower quadrant pain that persists or keeps getting worse.
|
The appendix can be removed laparoscopically. This involves three small incisions. Sometimes bleeding or inflammation may necessitate using the open traditional incision.
Recovery for the laparoscopic procedure is about two weeks.
|
