Abstract
Acute appendicitis is a sudden onset of inflammation of the vermiform appendix and is one of
the most common general surgical conditions. Despite its prevalence and cost, there are gaps in our understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of acute appendicitis. This thesis had the opportunity to review the current evidence on the common aetiologies and potential pathogenesis of acute appendicitis, as summarised in the first chapter. The presence of faecolith and its impact on the pathogenesis of acute appendicitis was discussed in detail in the second chapter. With the advancement of technologies, our understanding of the human gut microbiome has evolved substantially. The third chapter in this thesis addressed the microbiome aspect of AA by using the 16S-rRNA sequencing technique to analyse the gut
microbiome of a cohort of adults with appendicitis. With longer life expectancy and an ageing population, the topic of AA in older adulthood, and its association with the early onset of colorectal cancer (CRC), is of current interest and was addressed in Chapter 4 of this thesis.