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Appendicitis Center - West Valley City, UT

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West Valley City, Utah

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Appendicitis

What is the appendix?

The appendix is a closed-ended, narrow tube up to several inches in length 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 open center of 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, but the layer of muscle is poorly developed.

What is appendicitis and what causes appendicitis?

Appendicitis means 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 might swell and block the appendix. After the blockage occurs, bacteria which normally are found within the appendix 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 of the appendix. The cause of such a rupture is unclear, but it may relate to changes that occur in the lymphatic tissue, for example, inflammation, that lines 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 ...

Recommended Reading Related to Appendicitis

Night Sweats »

Introduction to night sweats

Doctors in primary care fields of medicine often hear their patients complain of night sweats as they are common. Night sweats refer to any excess sweating occurring during the night. However, if your bedroom is unusually hot or you are using too many bedclothes, you may begin to sweat during sleep - and this is normal. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.

In one study of 2267 patients visiting a primary care physician, 41% reported experiencing night sweats during the previous month, so the perception of excessive sweating at night is fairly common. It is important to note that flushing (a warmth and redness of the face or trunk) may also be hard t...

Emergency Contact for West Valley City

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby West Valley City Hospitals *

Pioneer Valley Hospital
3460 S Pioneer Pkwy
West Valley City, UT 84120
(801)964-3100

Intermountain Medical Center
5121 S Cottenwood St
Salt Lake City, UT 84157
(801)507-7000

St Mark's Hospital
1200 E 3900 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84124
(801)268-7111

Highland Ridge Hospital
7309 South 180 W
Midvale, UT 84047
(801)569-2153

LDS Hospital
8th Ave & C St
Salt Lake City, UT 84143
(801)408-1100

Promise Hospital of Salt Lake City East Campus
1050 E South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801)350-4110

Salt Lake Regional Medical Center
1050 E South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
(801)350-4111

Jordan Valley Medical Center
3580 W 9000 South
West Jordan, UT 84088
(801)561-8888

George E Wahlen VA Medical Center
500 Foothill Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84148
(801)582-1565

Huntsman Cancer Hospital
1950 E Circle of Hope
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801)587-4013

Shriners Hospital for Children
Fairfax Rd at Virginia St
Salt Lake City, UT 84103
(801)536-3500

HEALTHSOUTH Rehabilitation Hospital of Utah
8074 S 1300 East
Sandy, UT 84094
(801)561-3400

University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute
501 Chipeta Way
Salt Lake City, UT 84108
(801)583-2500

University of Utah Hospitals & Clinics
50 N Medical Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84132
(801)581-2121

Primary Children's Medical Center
100 N Mario Capecchi Dr
Salt Lake City, UT 84113
(801)662-1000

Alta View Hospital
9660 S 1300 East
Sandy, UT 84094
(801)501-2600

Benchmark Behavioral Health Systems
592 W 1350 South
Woods Cross, UT 84087
(801)299-5300

South Davis Community Hospital
401 S 400 East
Bountiful, UT 84010
(801)295-2361

Lakeview Hospital
630 E Medical Dr
Bountiful, UT 84010
(801)299-2200

Mountain West Medical Center
2055 N Main St
Tooele, UT 84074
(435)843-3600

American Fork Hospital
170 N 1100 East
American Fork, UT 84003
(801)855-3300

Davis Hospital & Medical Center
1600 W Antelope Dr
Layton, UT 84041
(801)807-1000

Timpanogos Regional Hospital
750 W 800 North
Orem, UT 84057
(801)714-6000

Orem Community Hospital
331 N 400 West
Orem, UT 84057
(801)224-4080

Heber Valley Medical Center
1485 S Hwy 40
Heber City, UT 84032
(435)654-2500

Ogden Regional Medical Center
5475 S 500 East
Ogden, UT 84405
(801)479-2111

McKay-Dee Hospital Center
4401 Harrison Blvd
Ogden, UT 84403
(801)627-2800

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
1034 N 500 West
Provo, UT 84604
(801)357-7850

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