Extirpation of the appendix, or
appendectomy, is the standard treatment utilized in cases of acute
appendicitis. Approximately 300,000 individuals in the United States have their appendix removed each year. Extirpation of the colon, or
colectomy, is used in the treatment of patient's
ulcerative colitis whose condition is resistant to other therapies. In many cases, the removal of the colon may entirely cure the disease. A colectomy may also be utilized in the treatment of colon cancer. Extirpation of the gallbladder, known as a
cholecystectomy, may be used as a treatment for recurrent
gallstones or
cholecystitis. This type of procedure is typically
elective and
outcomes following the procedure are typically good. The rate of cholecystectomies being performed on patients with cholecystitis has increased markedly since the first
laparoscopic procedure was performed in 1985; jumping from 2.2% in 1996 to 31.4% in 2008. ==References==