L'histoire extravagante de l'appendice et de l'appendicectomie : de la Renaissance à la vidéochirurgie

The concept of appendicitis and its surgical treatment was born at the end of nineteenth century. After a long period covering the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Francois Melier was the first in 1837, which linked the anatomical lesions to the clinical symptoms and surgical treatment. During the nineteenth century, the diagnosis and surgical practice was first developed in the United States and in France after the unfortunate death of Leon Gambetta. Initially marked by a heavy morbidity (20%), the prognosis was transformed by the antibiotics and morbidity then lowered to 2%. Finally, since the last 20 years, videosurgery allowed a minimally invasive surgical treatment. However, appendicitis remains a serious and unpredictable disease especially for children and immunodeficient patients.