Tag Archives: Appendectomy

Do I Have Appendicitis?

Are you having pain on the right side of your abdomen? Pain in the lower right side of the abdomen is one of the most common reasons that people go to the Emergency Room. Though there are several conditions that can cause pain in this area, one of the most common is acute appendicitis. So how do you know if you have appendicitis for sure? Here are some things to look out for: Appendicitis Symptoms Symptoms of appendicitis usually start with a dull ache or Continue reading →

Interesting Research Developments in Surgery for 2011

As the year comes to a close, I thought I would highlight some of the more interesting research studies that were conducted in the field of surgery for 2011: 1. Adenocarcinoma in Patients With Barrett’s Esophagus A study from Denmark showed that although patients with documented Barrett’s esophagus have an 11.3-fold increased risk of developing cancer of the esophagus, the annual risk of cancer development is actually lower than previously thought (0.12% vs. 0.5%). This raises a question on the current guidelines for surveillance in patients with Continue reading →

Appendicitis Without the Appendix? Maybe its Stump Appendicitis

Removal of the appendix (appendectomy) is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the United States, with >250,000 performed annually. Stump appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the residual appendix, and is an under-reported complication that can occur after open or laparoscopic appendectomy. Stump appendicitis results from obstruction of the lumen of the remaining appendix, usually by a hard piece of stool called a fecalith. This leads to an increase in the pressure of the stump of the appendix. As blood flow is impaired, Continue reading →