Appendectomy

Appendectomy
Removal by surgery of the appendix, the small worm-like appendage of the colon (the large bowel). An appendectomy is performed because of probable appendicitis, inflammation of the wall of the appendix generally associated with infection. Appendicitis usually is suspected because of the medical history and physical examination. The pain of developing appendicitis is at first diffuse and poorly localized (not confined to one spot) but, as the inflammation extends through the appendix to its outer covering and then to the lining of the abdomen, the pain changes and becomes localized to one small area between the front of the right hip bone and the belly button. The exact point is named after Dr. Charles McBurney - McBurney's point. If the appendix ruptures and infection spreads throughout the abdomen, the pain becomes diffuse again as the entire lining of the abdomen becomes inflamed. Ultrasonography and computerized tomography also may be helpful in diagnosis. Due to the varying size and location of the appendix and the proximity of other organs to the appendix, it may be difficult to differentiate appendicitis from other intra-abdominal diseases. The treatment for appendicitis is antibiotics and surgical removal of the appendix (appendectomy). Complications of appendectomy include wound infection, abscess, and obstruction of the intestine. The first successful appendectomy was done in Davenport, Iowa in 1885 by Dr. William West Grant. The patient was Mary Gartside, age
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Surgical removal of the vermiform appendix. SYN: appendicectomy. [appendix + G. ektome, excision]
- auricular a. excision of the auricular appendix of an atrium, usually the left.

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ap·pen·dec·to·my .ap-ən-'dek-tə-mē n, pl -mies surgical removal of the vermiform appendix

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n.
the usual US term for appendicectomy.

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ap·pen·dec·to·my (ap″en-dekґtə-me) surgical removal of the vermiform appendix.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Appendectomy — Ap pen*dec to*my, Appendicectomy Ap*pend i*cec to*my, n.] [Appendix + Gr. ?, fr. ? excision.] (Surg.) Excision of the vermiform appendix. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • appendectomy — (n.) 1891, a hybrid from from APPENDIX (Cf. appendix) + ECTOMY (Cf. ectomy) …   Etymology dictionary

  • appendectomy — ☆ appendectomy [ap΄ən dek′tə mē ] n. pl. appendectomies [ APPEND(IX) + ECTOMY] the surgical removal of the vermiform appendix …   English World dictionary

  • appendectomy — n. 1) to do, perform an appendectomy on 2) to have an appendectomy * * * [ˌæpɪn dektəmɪ] perform an appendectomy on to do to have an appendectomy …   Combinatory dictionary

  • appendectomy — UK [ˌæpənˈdektəmɪ] / US noun [countable] Word forms appendectomy : singular appendectomy plural appendectomies medical an operation in which your appendix is removed …   English dictionary

  • appendectomy — noun Appendectomy is used after these nouns: ↑emergency …   Collocations dictionary

  • appendectomy — noun (plural mies) Etymology: Latin appendic , appendix + English ectomy Date: circa 1895 surgical removal of the vermiform appendix …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • appendectomy — /ap euhn dek teuh mee/, n., pl. appendectomies. Surg. excision of the vermiform appendix. [1890 95; APPEND(IX) + ECTOMY] * * * …   Universalium

  • appendectomy — noun The surgical procedure for the removal of the vermiform appendix …   Wiktionary

  • appendectomy — Synonyms and related words: adenoidectomy, arteriectomy, castration, cholecystectomy, craniectomy, cricoidectomy, cystectomy, enterectomy, gastrectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, hysterectomy, mammectomy, mastectomy, mastoidectomy, nephrectomy,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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