Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. It’s the most common major surgical emergency. More precisely, this disorder is an inflammation of the vermiform appendix, a small, fingerlike projection attached to the cecum just below the ileocecal valve. The appendix may harbor good bacteria that protect the gut and play a role in the immune system.
What causes it
Causes of appendicitis include:
• Mucosal ulceration
• Fecal mass (fecalith)
• Stricture
• Barium ingestion
• Viral infection.
