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Appendectomy Center - Tuckahoe, VA

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Tuckahoe, Virginia

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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 Tuckahoe

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Tuckahoe Hospitals *

Henrico Doctors' Hospital
1602 Skipwith Rd
Richmond, VA 23229
(804)289-4500

Bon Secours St Mary's Hospital
5801 Bremo Rd
Richmond, VA 23226
(804)285-2011

Stony Point Surgery Center
8700 Stony Point Pkwy
Richmond, VA 23235
(804)775-4500

HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Virginia
5700 Fitzhugh Ave
Richmond, VA 23226
(804)288-5700

Parham Doctors' Hospital
7700 E Parham Rd
Richmond, VA 23294
(804)747-5600

Retreat Doctor's Hospital
2621 Grove Ave
Richmond, VA 23220
(804)254-5100

CJW Medical Center Chippenham Campus
7101 Jahnke Rd
Richmond, VA 23225
(804)320-3911

CJW Medical Center Johnston-Willis Campus
1401 Johnston-Willis Dr
Richmond, VA 23235
(804)330-2000

Children's Hospital
2924 Brook Rd
Richmond, VA 23220
(804)321-7474

Hallmark Youth Care
12800 W Creek Pkwy
Richmond, VA 23238
(804)784-2200

VCU Medical Center
1250 E Marshall St
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)828-9000

Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center
1201 Broad Rock Blvd
Richmond, VA 23249
(804)675-5000

Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital
1500 N 28th St
Richmond, VA 23223
(804)225-1700

Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center
13710 St Francis Blvd
Midlothian, VA 23114
(804)594-7300

Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Hospital
8254 Atlee Rd
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
(804)764-7054

Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center
8260 Atlee Rd
Mechanicsville, VA 23116
(804)764-6000

Central State Hospital
26317 W Washington St
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804)524-7000

Hiram W Davis Medical Center
7th Ave
Petersburg, VA 23803
(804)524-7420

John Randolph Medical Center
411 W Randolph Rd
Hopewell, VA 23860
(804)541-7492

Poplar Springs Hospital
350 Poplar Dr
Petersburg, VA 23805
(804)733-6874

Cumberland Hospital for Children & Adolescents
9407 Cumberland Rd
New Kent, VA 23124
(804)966-2242

Southside Regional Medical Center
200 Medical Park Blvd
Petersburg, VA 23805
(804)862-5000

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