Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a 3 1/2-inch-
long tube of tissue that extends from the large intestine. No
one is absolutely certain what the function of the appendix is.
One thing we do know: We can live without it, without apparent
consequences. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires
prompt surgery to remove the appendix. Left untreated, an
inflamed appendix will eventually burst, or perforate, spilling
infectious materials into the abdominal cavity. This can lead to
peritonitis, a serious inflammation of the abdominal cavity's
lining (the peritoneum) that can be fatal unless it is treated
quickly with strong antibiotics. Sometimes a pus-filled abscess
(infection that is walled off from the rest of the body) forms
outside the inflamed appendix. Scar tissue then "walls off" the
appendix from the rest of the abdomen, preventing infection from
spreading. An abscessed appendix is a less urgent situation, but
unfortunately, it can't be identified without surgery. For this
reason, all