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Appendectomy Center - North Atlanta, GA

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North Atlanta, Georgia

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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 North Atlanta

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby North Atlanta Hospitals *

Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite
1001 Johnson Ferry Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404)785-5252

Northside Hospital
1000 Johnson Ferry Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404)851-8000

Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404)851-7001

Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta
2151 Peachford Rd
Atlanta, GA 30338
(770)455-3200

Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital
1821 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404)728-6200

Atlanta VA Medical Center
1670 Clairmont Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
(404)321-6111

Children's Healthcare at Egleston
1405 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404)785-6000

Emory University Hospital
1364 Clifton Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404)712-2000

Hillside Hospital
690 Courtenay Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404)875-4551

Piedmont Hospital
1968 Peachtree Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404)605-5000

Shepherd Center
2020 Peachtree Rd NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404)352-2020

DeKalb Medical Center
2701 N Decatur Rd
Decatur, GA 30033
(404)501-1000

Laurel Heights Hospital
934 Briarcliff Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30306
(404)888-7860

DeKalb Medical
450 N Candler St
Decatur, GA 30030
(404)501-6700

Kindred Hospital Atlanta
705 Juniper St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404)873-2871

Emory University Hospital Midtown
550 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30308
(404)686-4411

Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta
550 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30327
(404)686-2270

Atlanta Medical Center
303 Parkway Dr NE
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404)265-4000

Grady Health System
80 Jesse Hill Jr Dr SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404)616-4307

Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital
2540 Windy Hill Rd
Marietta, GA 30067
(770)644-1000

Emory Adventist Hospital
3949 S Cobb Dr SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770)434-0710

Ridgeview Institute
3995 S Cobb Dr SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(770)434-4567

Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta
3073 Panthersville Rd
Decatur, GA 30034
(404)243-2100

Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth
3620 Howell Ferry Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678)312-6805

North Fulton Regional Hospital
3000 Hospital Blvd
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)751-2500

Regency Hospital of South Atlanta
1170 Cleveland Ave
East Point, GA 30344
(404)466-6250

South Fulton Medical Center
1170 Cleveland Ave
East Point, GA 30344
(404)466-1170

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
677 Church St
Marietta, GA 30060
(770)793-5000

Glancy Rehabilitation Center
3215 McClure Bridge Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678)312-6000

DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale
2801 DeKalb Medical Pkwy
Lithonia, GA 30058
(404)501-8000

Wellstar Cobb Hospital
3950 Austell Rd
Austell, GA 30106
(770)732-4000

Emory Johns Creek Hospital
6325 W Johns Crossing
Duluth, GA 30097
(678)474-7000

Devereux Georgia Treatment Network
1291 Stanley Rd NW
Kennesaw, GA 30152
(770)427-0147

Emory Eastside Medical Center
1700 Medical Way
Snellville, GA 30078
(770)979-0200

Anchor Hospital
5454 Yorktowne Dr
Atlanta, GA 30349
(770)991-6044

Gwinnett Medical Center
1000 Medical Center Blvd
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
(678)442-4321

Southern Regional Medical Center
11 Upper Riverdale Rd SW
Riverdale, GA 30274
(770)991-8000

SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine
250 Scenic Hwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30045
(678)442-5800

Rockdale Medical Center
1412 Milstead Ave NE
Conyers, GA 30012
(770)918-3000

Northside Hospital Forsyth
1200 Northside Forsyth Dr
Cumming, GA 30041
(770)844-4000

Wellstar Douglas Hospital
8954 Hospital Dr
Douglasville, GA 30134
(770)949-1500

Henry Medical Center
1133 Eagle's Landing Pkwy
Stockbridge, GA 30281
(770)389-2200

Inner Harbour Hospitals
4685 Dorsett Shoals Rd
Douglasville, GA 30135
(770)942-2391

Northside Hospital Cherokee
201 Hospital Rd
Canton, GA 30114
(770)720-5100

Wellstar Paulding Hospital
600 W Memorial Dr
Dallas, GA 30132
(770)445-4411

Piedmont Fayette Hospital
1255 Hwy 54 W
Fayetteville, GA 30214
(770)719-7000

Newton Medical Center
5126 Hospital Dr
Covington, GA 30014
(770)786-7053

Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica
601 Dallas Rd
Villa Rica, GA 30180
(770)456-3000

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