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Appendectomy Center - Durham, NC

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Durham, North Carolina

Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake county. It is the home of Duke University and North Carolina Central University, and is also one of the vertices of the Research Triangle area (home of the Research Triangle Park).
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham,_North_Carolina)

Upcoming Local Events

2012-06-16
Sappony 5K Trail Run
Roxboro, North Carolina
2012-06-17
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Throughout Raleigh, North Carolina
2012-06-17
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Throughout Greensboro, North Carolina
2012-06-17
The Virtual Father's Day Run - Chapel Hill
Throughout Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2012-07-20
Peachy Feet 5k
Candor, North Carolina
2012-07-21
Triangle Expressway Trot II
Cary, North Carolina
2012-08-04
10th Ride For Life Metric Century
Carthage, North Carolina
2012-08-25
18th Annual Run for Life
Cary, North Carolina
2012-09-08
Warren "SNEAK" Lewis 5K Memorial Run
Middlesex, North Carolina
2012-09-22
The Patrol Stroll
Raleigh, North Carolina

Appendectomy

What is the appendix?

The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube that attaches to the cecum (the first part of the colon) like a worm. (The anatomical name for the appendix, vermiform appendix, means worm-like appendage.) The inner lining of the appendix produces a small amount of mucus that flows through the appendix and into the cecum. The wall of the appendix contains lymphatic tissue that is part of the immune system for making antibodies. Like the rest of the colon, the wall of the appendix also contains a layer of muscle.

What is appendicitis?

Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked. The blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix or to stool that enters the appendix from the cecum. The mucus or stool hardens, becomes rock-like, and blocks the opening. This rock is called a fecalith (literally, a rock of stool). At other times, the lymphatic tissue in the appendix may swell and block the appendix. Bacteria which normally are found within the appendix then begin to invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. The body responds to the invasion by mounting an attack on the bacteria, an attack called inflammation. (An alternative theory for the cause of appendicitis is an initial rupture of the appendix followed by spread of bacteria outside the appendix.. The cause of such a rupture is unclear, but it may relate to changes that occur in the lymphatic tissue that line the wall of the appendix.)

If the inflammation and infection spread through the wall of the appendix, the appendix can rupture. After rupture, infection can spread throughout the abdomen; however, it usually is confined to a small area surrounding the appendix (forming a peri-appendiceal abscess).

Sometimes, the body is successful in containing ("healing") the appendicitis with...

Recommended Reading Related to Appendectomy

The Digestive System »

Digestion Introduction

"Just a spoonful of sugar... " goes the song. But what happens to that sugar once you swallow it? In fact, how is it that you are able to swallow it at all? Your digestive system performs amazing feats every day, whether you eat a double cheeseburger or a stalk of celery. Read on to learn what exactly happens to food as it makes its way through your digestive system.

What Is Digestion?

Digestion is the complex process of turning the food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestion process also involves creating waste to be eliminated.

The digestive tract (or gut) is a long twisting tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. It is made up of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food and other cells that produce enzymes and hormones to aid in the breakdown of food. Along the way are three other organs that are needed for digestion: the liver, gallbladder, and the ...

Emergency Contact for Durham

  • In case of Emergency, call 911
  • Police (808) 529-3111
  • Fire (808) 723-7139

Nearby Durham Hospitals *

Duke University Medical Center
2301 Erwin Rd
Durham, NC 27710
(919)684-8111

Durham VA Medical Center
508 Fulton St
Durham, NC 27705
(919)286-0411

Durham Regional Hospital
3643 N Roxboro Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919)470-4000

Select Specialty Hospital Durham
3643 N Roxboro Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919)470-9000

North Carolina Specialty Hospital
3916 Ben Franklin Blvd
Durham, NC 27704
(919)956-9300

UNC Health Care
101 Manning Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919)966-4131

John Umstead Hospital
1003 12th St
Butner, NC 27509
(919)575-7211

Rex Healthcare
4420 Lake Boone Trl
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919)784-3100

WakeMed Cary Hospital
1900 Kildaire Farm Rd
Cary, NC 27518
(919)350-2000

Duke Raleigh Hospital
3400 Wake Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919)954-3000

WakeMed Raleigh Campus
3000 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919)350-8000

Holly Hill Hospital
3019 Falstaff Rd
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919)250-7000

Granville Medical Center
1010 College St
Oxford, NC 27565
(919)690-3000

Person Memorial Hospital
615 Ridge Rd
Roxboro, NC 27573
(336)599-2121

Maria Parham Medical Center
566 Ruin Creek Rd
Henderson, NC 27536
(252)438-4143

Alamance Regional Medical Center
1240 Huffman Mill Rd
Burlington, NC 27215
(336)538-7000

Franklin Regional Medical Center
100 Hospital Dr
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919)496-5131

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