For two decades, studies have shown an inverse relationship between appendectomy and ulcerative colitis. But the mechanism is unclear. Is it a placebo effect? Or does the appendix play a role, perhaps as a reservoir for harmful bacteria that contribute to UC?
A new study adds weight to the latter theory, showing that removing the appendix in severely ill patients with therapy-refractive UC offers a benefit in their quality of life and, for close to half of patients, spared them from undergoing a