闌尾炎是年輕人和小孩最常見的需手術處理的急性腹痛，闌尾炎是因闌尾管壁阻塞造成發炎，多由糞石引起，錯過或延遲診斷會導致闌尾破裂和提高致死率，但因結構上的變異和不典型的臨床表現，診斷目前仍是一種挑戰，目前主要的診斷方式還是以臨床病史和理學檢查為主，影象學檢查則可以減少誤切除闌尾的機率，雖然單獨使用抗生素可治療無糞石阻塞的闌尾炎，但目前仍建議早期手術治療，手術方式有開放式闌尾切除術和腹腔鏡方式，分別各有優缺點，手術中使用抗生素可減少傷口感染及腹腔內膿瘍等併發症發生的機會。

Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute surgical abdomen in children and young adults. Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix caused by luminal obstruction, mostly by fecaliths. A missed or delayed diagnosis can lead to appendix rupture and a resultant increase in mortality. Because of anatomical variability and atypical clinical presentations, making a correct diagnosis is still a challenge. Diagnosing appendicitis mostly depends on reviewing the clinical history and a physical examination. An imaging study can decrease the negative appendectomy rate. Although antibiotics alone can be used to treat appendicitis without fecalith obstruction, early surgical treatment is still recommended. Operative procedures include an open appendectomy and laparoscopic appendectomy. Both have advantages and disadvantages. The use of perioperative antibiotics can decrease the incidence of wound infection and intra-abdominal abscess.