MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia:Appendectomy

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Appendectomy - series: Procedure

Appendectomy - seriesIllustrations:

Procedure

If a pocket of infection has formed, or the appendix has ruptured, the abdomen will be thoroughly washed out during surgery. The surgeon may then leave the skin open and allow it to heal together on its own, to allow the infection to drain, or less frequently, put in a small drainage tube.

Update Date: 3/5/2007

Updated by: Brendan T. Campbell, MD, MPH, Department of Surgery, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, AR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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