Your appendix isn't useless after all … unless it bursts

The article said, “Charles Bergstrom, who recently underwent an operation by Dr. Stackhouse for a ruptured appendix, is rapidly getting out of danger.” An example of HIPAA law infraction? No, this article ran 100 years ago. Good job Dr. Stackhouse!

Bet back then, Dr. Stackhouse probably told Mr. Bergstrom that he didn’t need his appendix and was well rid of it. At that time he had no reason to believe otherwise. But, studies in the last several years have disputed that theory.

A study conducted at Duke University School of Medicine states that the appendix is “a ‘safe house’ for the beneficial bacteria living in the human gut.”

“While there is no smoking gun, the abundance of circumstantial evidence makes a strong case for the role of the appendix as a place where the good bacteria can live safe and undisturbed until they are needed,” said William Parker, PhD, assistant professor of experimental surgery.

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