Other inflammatory problems may mimic appendicitis. Surgeons often observe patients with suspected appendicitis for a period of time to see if problem will resolve or suggest appendicitis more strongly versus another condition. Conditions that mimic appendicitis are:

1) Meckel's diverticulitis. 2) Pelvic inflammatory disease -infection of tube and ovary. It is treated with antibiotics alone 3) Fluids from right upper abdomen may drip into lower abdomen and cause inflammation resembling appendicitis. Then, for example, patient has gallbladder disease or liver abscess, but all symptoms suggest acute appendicitis. 4) Diverticulitis that occur on right side. 5) Inflammation of right kidney. 6) Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis 7) Yersinia enterocolitica infection - bacteria that comes form certain food - like unpasteurized milk. - may cause appendicitis 8) passing kidney stone 9) ectopic pregnancy 10) ovarian cyst rupture. And so on. There are some other conditions.

Appendectomy is performed urgently usually. Thomeo is Latin for dissect or cut. Lapar - is abdomen (belly) in medical Latin. Laparotomy is opening of belly. Appendectomy is cutting of appendix. Laparoscopy is looking (by scope) into belly. Antibiotics almost always are given prior to surgery as soon as appendicitis is suspected.

Few patients have mild "confined appendicitis" localized to a small area. These patients may improve during several days of observation when treated with antibiotics alone. Doctors may or may not removed appendix later. Chances are you are not one of this patients.

If a person has not seen doctor for many days while appendicitis ruptured (yeah, sometime happens; there are some tough guys), an abscess may form, and perforation may close. Initially it can be treated with antibiotics; however, that will require drainage later. A drain is guided under ultrasound or CT scan and appendix is removed after abscess resolves.

In modern days surgeons offer laparoscopic appendectomy. They insert laparoscope (it is like a small telescope with a video camera) and remove appendix with special instruments through small puncture wounds.

If you had this type of surgery, you will probably have four 1-cm size scars and you will go home in one or two days.

But if your case is complicated or there is just no laparoscopy in hospital, they will do classical appendectomy. Surgeon cuts 10-cm incision in area of appendix. Appendix is removed form right lower abdomen or where it is. Area is checked for other problems. In case of abscess purulent stuff will be drained with rubber tubes through skin. With that kind of surgery you will probably stay for four to seven days. Antibiotics will help to resolve abscess.

This is why you sign consent: "laparoscopic appendectomy, possible conversion to an open appendectomy".

The most common complication of appendectomy is wound infection. If it is severe, surgeon will postpone incision closure for several days.

Ok, now you have those four small scars or one big scar, you go home and visit that party that you missed.