It was the first day of spring break in 1992 in Phoenix, and 12-year-old Heather Smith was excited for her family's upcoming ski trip. But before Smith and her family had even packed their snow pants, ...

Appendicitis often begins with dull pain in the lower abdomen. But it can quickly transform into an emergency requiring immediate medical attention. Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a ...

An appendectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your appendix, the small tube connected to your large intestine in the lower right side of your belly. It’s not completely clear what role the ...

Medicare pays for appendix surgery when medically necessary. The surgery may vary depending on the situation. Medicare covers surgeries deemed medically necessary. Since appendicitis is considered a ...

It’s one of the most common medical emergencies – an inflamed or ruptured appendix. It usually ends with a trip to the operating room and the removal of the organ. But some patients can do just fine ...

For decades, the human appendix was casually dismissed as a “useless” vestige. Modern research and clinical experience, however, suggest that this small, narrow pouch, attached to the cecum in the ...

Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS, FACG, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and member of the Digestive Health Associates of Texas Board of Directors and Executive Committee. You can sometimes treat ...

Courtney is a registered nurse with over 13 years of experience in the clinical setting, helping individuals navigate their way through their healthcare journeys. She has been in the frontlines ...