Here's a clear view of the appendix during appendectomy. This operation is extremely common and done when a patient is suffering from an acute appendicitis. The giveaway symptoms for this condition are right sided abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. It results from obstruction of the appendiceal lumen, typically by lymphoid hyperplasia, but occasionally by a fecalith, foreign body, or even worms. The obstruction leads to distention, bacterial overgrowth, ischemia, and inflammation. If untreated, necrosis, gangrene, and perforation occur.Treatment is no other than an open or laparoscopic appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix) with IV fluids and antibiotics. Any delay in surgery only increases the likelihood of perforation, peritonitis and other complications.
