| Appendicitis (or epityphlitis) is a condition | | | | Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires |
| characterized by inflammation of the appendix. All | | | | prompt surgery to remove the appendix. Left |
| cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, | | | | untreated, an inflamed appendix will eventually burst, |
| either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, | | | | or perforate, spilling infectious materials into the |
| mortality is high, mainly due to peritonitis and shock.[1] | | | | abdominal cavity. This can lead to peritonitis, a serious |
| Reginald Fitz first described acute appendicitis in | | | | inflammation of the abdominal cavity's lining (the |
| 1886,[2] and it has been recognized as one of the | | | | peritoneum) that can be fatal unless it is treated |
| most common causes of acute abdomen pain | | | | quickly with strong antibiotics. |
| worldwide. | | | | |