How many times can an appendix break?!
Question: my friend said hers broke 'again' and I don't believe that is possible
Answers: my friend said hers broke 'again' and I don't believe that is possible
Usually, a person will only get appendicitis once, but there are two cases when they CAN have appendicitis more than once.
An appendix doesn't break, but it does perforate, or burst, if appendicitis (infection and inflammation of the appendix) goes untreated and the pressure becomes too great - then the appendix bursts, and the pus and bacteria leak into the abdomen and cause peritonitis. Both of these are emergencies, but peritonitis following a perforated appendix is significantly more dangerous than simple appendicitis. Most cases, the appendix will be removed before it bursts, via surgery, but if the patient isn't operated on in time or they delay going to hospital, then the operation to clean them up is much bigger - they have to wash everything out, as well as removing the appendix, and this takes longer, has a bigger incision, and needs a lot more post operative treatment.
As I said, usually appendicitis is treated by surgery (and a perforated appendix always is) but in some cases, low grade appendicitis might be treated by just watching it or with antibiotics - commonly called a grumbling appendix. This might be used now if the medical tests suggest that the infection is mild, or is not definite (some viral infections can cause the internal abdominal lymph nodes - the swollen glands you get in your neck when you have mono or strep throat - to get all swollen and this can be very very painful, and there are a lot of other conditions that can also look like appendicitis).
Finally, even when someone has had the appendix removed, it is possible to leave behind enough of the stump of the appendix, where it joins the main bowel, to cause the infection to recur again - this is called stump appendicitis.
So in short - if your friend had her appendix removed after it perforated, then no - she can't have a perforated appendix again, but she could develop stump appendicitis if enough of it was left behind. If, on the other hand, she had low-grade appendicitis that resolved and got better without surgery, then it's perfectly possible for it to happen again.
once since it is usually removed at that time....
just once. I had mine removed, and if it breaks, you can die. so he is a liar.
It's a one time deal. If they break once and you live through it, what's left of them are removed.
When a person has appendicitus the appendix is removed. I had appendicitus and it has to be removed because it ruptured. Try looking up appendicitus on Webmd.com
You can only break your appendix once. There is excruciating pain. You get your appendix taken out after that. Since you get them taken out you don't have them left which means they can't break AGAIN. So, your friend is lying.
Just once, since they are removed after they rupture once.