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Appendectomy Center - Penn Hills, PA

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Penn Hills, Pennsylvania

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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 Penn Hills

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Penn Hills Hospitals *

HEALTHSOUTH Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital
320 Guys Run Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
(412)828-1300

UPMC St Margaret
815 Freeport Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
(412)784-4000

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
University Dr C
Pittsburgh, PA 15240
(412)688-6000

LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh Main Campus
225 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
(412)247-2424

Transitional Infant Care Hospital
5324 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(412)441-0700

The Children's Institute
1405 Shady Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
(412)420-2400

UPMC Shadyside
5230 Centre Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
(412)623-2121

Western Pennsylvania Hospital
4800 Friendship Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(412)578-5000

UPMC Braddock
400 Holland Ave
Braddock, PA 15104
(412)636-5000

The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Forbes Regional Campus
2570 Haymaker Rd
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412)858-2000

HEALTHSOUTH Hospital of Pittsburgh
2380 McGinley Rd
Monroeville, PA 15146
(412)856-2400

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
3705 5th Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412)692-5325

UPMC Presbyterian
200 Lothrop St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412)647-2345

Magee-Womens Hospital
300 Halket St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(412)641-1000

UPMC Mercy
1400 Locust St
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412)232-8111

UPMC Southside
2000 Mary St
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412)488-5550

Allegheny General Hospital
320 E North Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412)359-3131

Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh North Shore
1004 Arch St
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
(412)323-5800

Alle-Kiski Medical Center
1301 Carlisle St
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
(724)224-5100

Select Specialty Hospital McKeesport
1500 Fifth Ave
Mc Keesport, PA 15132
(412)664-2900

UPMC McKeesport
1500 Fifth Ave
Mc Keesport, PA 15132
(412)664-2000

UPMC Passavant
9100 Babcock Blvd
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
(412)367-6700

Allegheny General Hospital Suburban Campus
100 S Jackson Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
(412)734-6000

LifeCare Hospitals of Pittsburgh North Campus
100 S Jackson Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15202
(412)734-7672

Jefferson Regional Medical Center
565 Coal Valley Rd
Jefferson Hills, PA 15025
(412)469-5000

Ohio Valley General Hospital
25 Heckel Rd
Mc Kees Rocks, PA 15136
(412)777-6161

St Clair Hospital
1000 Bower Hill Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15243
(412)561-4900

Westmoreland Excela Health Hospital at Jeannette
600 Jefferson Ave
Jeannette, PA 15644
(724)527-3551

Heritage Valley Sewickley Hospital
720 Blackburn Rd
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412)741-6600

UPMC Passavant Cranberry
One St Francis Way
Cranberry Twp, PA 16066
(724)772-5300

Mayview State Hospital
1601 Mayview Rd
Bridgeville, PA 15017
(412)257-6500

Southwood Psychiatric Hospital
2575 Boyce Plaza Rd
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
(412)257-2290

HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Sewickley
303 Camp Meeting Rd
Sewickley, PA 15143
(412)741-9500

Westmoreland Regional Hospital
532 W Pittsburgh St
Greensburg, PA 15601
(724)832-4000

Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh
7777 Steubenville Pike
Oakdale, PA 15071
(412)494-5500

Monongahela Valley Hospital
1163 Country Club Rd
Monongahela, PA 15063
(724)258-1000

Butler Memorial Hospital
911 E Brady St
Butler, PA 16001
(724)283-6666

Canonsburg General Hospital
100 Medical Blvd
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724)745-6100

ACMH Hospital
One Nolte Dr
Kittanning, PA 16201
(724)543-8500

Butler VA Medical Center
325 New Castle Rd
Butler, PA 16001
(724)287-4781

Latrobe Area Hospital
1 Mellon Way
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724)537-1000

Select Specialty Hospital Greensburg
1 Mellon Way
Latrobe, PA 15650
(724)539-3870

Frick Hospital
508 S Church St
Mount Pleasant, PA 15666
(724)547-1500

Kindred Hospital at Heritage Valley
1000 Dutch Ridge Rd
Beaver, PA 15009
(724)773-8480

Medical Center of Beaver
1000 Dutch Ridge Rd
Beaver, PA 15009
(724)728-7000

Torrance State Hospital
State Route 1014 Torrance Rd
Torrance, PA 15779
(412)459-8000

The Washington Hospital
155 Wilson Ave
Washington, PA 15301
(724)225-7000

Ellwood City Hospital
724 Pershing St
Ellwood City, PA 16117
(724)752-0081

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