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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffAppendicitis can cause serious complications.
A ruptured appendix
If your appendix ruptures, the contents of your intestines and infectious organisms can leak into your abdominal cavity. This can cause an infection of your abdominal cavity (peritonitis).
A pocket of puss that forms in the abdomen
Infection and the seepage of intestinal contents may form an abscess — a pocket of infection (appendiceal abscess). Appendiceal abscess requires treatment before the abscess tears, causing a more widespread infection of the abdominal cavity.
- Sarosi GA, et al. Appendicitis. In: Feldman M, et al. Sleisenger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/147305686-2/0/1389/0.html. Accessed July 1, 2009.
- Ferri FF. Appendicitis, acute. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2009: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/147002427-2/0/1701/0.html. Accessed July 1, 2009.
- Appendicitis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/appendicitis/. Accessed July 1, 2009.
- Appendectomy. American College of Surgeons. http://www.facs.org/public_info/operation/brochures/app.pdf. Accessed July 1, 2009.
