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Appendectomy Center - Newton, MA

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Newton, Massachusetts

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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 Newton

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Newton Hospitals *

Newton Wellesley Hospital
2014 Washington St
Newton, MA 02462
(617)243-6000

Caritas St Elizabeth's Medical Center
736 Cambridge St
Brighton, MA 02135
(617)789-3000

Franciscan Hospital for Children
30 Warren St
Boston, MA 02135
(617)254-3800

Kindred Hospital Boston
1515 Commonwealth Ave
Brighton, MA 02135
(617)254-1100

McLean Hospital
115 Mill St
Belmont, MA 02478
(617)855-2000

Bournewood Hospital
300 South St
Brookline, MA 02467
(617)469-0300

Arbour HRI Hospital
227 Babcock St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617)731-3200

Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham
148 Chestnut St
Needham, MA 02492
(781)453-3000

Mount Auburn Hospital
330 Mt Auburn St
Cambridge, MA 02238
(617)492-3500

VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus
1400 VFW Pkwy
West Roxbury, MA 02132
(617)323-7700

Faulkner Hospital
1153 Centre St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)983-7000

Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged
1200 Centre St
Roslindale, MA 02131
(617)325-8000

VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus
150 S Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02130
(617)232-9500

Arbour Hospital
49 Robinwood Ave
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)522-4400

Brigham & Women's Hospital
75 Francis St
Boston, MA 02115
(617)732-5500

Dana Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney St
Boston, MA 02115
(617)632-3000

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
330 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215
(617)667-7000

Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Ave
Boston, MA 02115
(617)355-6000

New England Baptist Hospital
125 Parker Hill Ave
Boston, MA 02120
(617)754-5800

Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
1575 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617)876-4344

Cambridge Hospital
1493 Cambridge St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617)498-1000

Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
170 Morton St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)522-8110

Massachusetts Mental Health Center
180 Morton St
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617)626-9300

Radius Specialty Hospital Boston
59 Townsend St
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617)442-8760

Somerville Hospital
230 Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02143
(617)591-4500

M I T Medical
25 Carleton St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617)253-4481

Boston Medical Center
One Boston Medical Center Pl
Roxbury, MA 02118
(617)638-8000

Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary
243 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114
(617)523-7900

Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit St
Boston, MA 02114
(617)726-2000

Shriners Hospitals for Children Boston Burn Hospital
51 Blossom St
Boston, MA 02114
(617)722-3000

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
125 Nashua St
Boston, MA 02114
(617)573-7000

Tufts New England Medical Center
750 Washington St
Boston, MA 02111
(617)636-5000

Kindred Specialty Hospital Natick
67 Union St
Natick, MA 01760
(508)650-7630

MetroWest Medical Center Leonard Morse Hospital
67 Union St
Natick, MA 01760
(508)650-7000

Lawrence Memorial Hospital
170 Governors Ave
Medford, MA 02155
(781)306-6000

Caritas Carney Hospital
2100 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester, MA 02124
(617)296-4000

HEALTHSOUTH New England Rehabilitation Hospital
2 Rehab Way
Woburn, MA 01801
(781)935-5050

Milton Hospital
92 Highland St
Milton, MA 02186
(617)696-4600

Westwood Lodge Hospital
45 Clapboardtree St
Westwood, MA 02090
(781)762-7764

Winchester Hospital
41 Highland Ave
Winchester, MA 01890
(781)729-9000

Whidden Memorial Hospital
103 Garland St
Everett, MA 02149
(617)389-6270

Lawrence F Quigley Memorial Hospital
91 Crest Ave
Chelsea, MA 02150
(617)884-5660

Lahey Clinic Medical Center
41 Mall Rd
Burlington, MA 01805
(781)744-5100

Caritas Norwood Hospital
800 Washington St
Norwood, MA 02062
(781)769-4000

Melrose Wakefield Hospital
585 Lebanon St
Melrose, MA 02176
(781)979-3000

Emerson Hospital
133 ORNAC
Concord, MA 01742
(978)369-1400

MetroWest Medical Center Framingham Union Hospital
115 Lincoln St
Framingham, MA 01702
(508)383-1000

Quincy Medical Center
114 Whitwell St
Quincy, MA 02169
(617)773-6100

Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
200 Springs Rd
Bedford, MA 01730
(781)687-2000

Massachusetts Hospital School
3 Randolph St
Canton, MA 02021
(781)828-2440

Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital
250 Pond St
Braintree, MA 02184
(781)848-5353

New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center
150 York St
Stoughton, MA 02072
(781)344-0600

Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree
2001 Washington St
Braintree, MA 02184
(781)848-2600

North Shore Medical Center
500 Lynnfield St
Lynn, MA 01904
(781)581-9200

South Shore Hospital
55 Fogg Rd
Weymouth, MA 02190
(781)340-8000

Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton
909 Sumner St
Stoughton, MA 02072
(781)297-8411

UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital
157 Union St
Marlborough, MA 01752
(508)481-5000

Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center
235 N Pearl St
Brockton, MA 02301
(508)427-3000

Tewksbury Hospital
365 East St
Tewksbury, MA 01876
(978)851-7321

Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital Westborough
150 Flanders Rd
Westborough, MA 01581
(508)870-2222

Kindred Hospital Boston North Shore
15 King St
Peabody, MA 01960
(978)531-2900

Salem Hospital & the Birthplace
81 Highland Ave
Salem, MA 01970
(978)741-1200

North Shore Children's Hospital
57 Highland Ave
Salem, MA 01970
(978)745-2100

Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital
Dove Ave
Salem, MA 01970
(978)745-9003

Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton
940 Belmont St
Brockton, MA 02301
(508)583-4500

Westborough State Hospital
288 Lyman St
Westborough, MA 01581
(508)616-2100

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
680 Centre St
Brockton, MA 02302
(508)941-7000

Isham Health Center
180 Main St
Andover, MA 01810
(978)749-4455

Milford Regional Medical Center
14 Prospect St
Milford, MA 01757
(508)473-1190

Saints Medical Center
One Hospital Dr
Lowell, MA 01852
(978)458-1411

HC Solomon Mental Health Center
391 Varnum Ave
Lowell, MA 01854
(978)322-5000

Lowell General Hospital
295 Varnum Ave
Lowell, MA 01854
(978)937-6000

Beverly Hospital
85 Herrick St
Beverly, MA 01915
(978)922-3000

Nashoba Valley Medical Center
200 Groton Rd
Ayer, MA 01432
(978)784-9000

UMass Memorial Clinton Hospital
201 Highland St
Clinton, MA 01510
(978)368-3000

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