December 25, 2000 Jenna Bush had an appendectomy. Here is more info on the appendix and the operation to remove it. If you are squeamish, please leave this page right now!
What is the appendix?
Projecting out from the beginning of the large intestine is the appendix, a thin finger-shaped organ of unknown function in humans. To see a gnarly anatomy drawing, check out this Columbia University link.
What is appendicitis?
When your appendix gets sick, doctors call say 'the patient has a case of appendicitis'. This is often caused by obstruction of the appendix -- a common clogger is fecal material. When this happens, the appendix is prone to burst. This can cause deadly internal infections. When appendicitis occurs, surgeons must operate and remove the appendix (humans can live fine without this little organ).
What are some symptoms of having an ill appendix? What did Jenna go through?
Bryon Robinson, M.D. wrote an article titled SUDDEN ABDOMINAL PAIN - ITS SIGNIFICANCE. The language in this early 20th Century article is dense: try reading the whole article!
Back to the subject at hand: appendicitis symptoms. Here are symptoms of having appendicitis:
an attack of sudden abdominal pain in the lower right side of the abdomen
vomiting with a rise of temperature, a rise in pulse and quick breathing
If these symtoms (high temperature, high pulse, and stomach rigidity) suddenly dissappear, gangrene of the appendix has probably occurred. The person should be taken to the emergency room, and the appendix removed through operation!
What is an appendectomy?
The procedure for chopping out the appendix is called an 'appendectomy'. Below is a picture of a swollen appendix right after it has been removed. This photo is from an appendectomy description on the University of Iowa website. Here are more photos of appendixes!
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