The appendix is a small,
tube-like structure attached to the first part
of the large intestine, also called the colon.
The appendix is located in the
lower right portion of the abdomen. It has no
known function. Removal of the appendix appears to cause no
change in digestive
function.
WHAT
IS APPENDICITIS?
Appendicitis is an
inflammation of the appendix.
Once it starts, there is no effective medical
therapy, so appendicitis is
considered a
medical emergency. When treated promptly, most
patients recover without difficulty. If the
treatment is delayed, then appendix can burst, causing
infection and even death. Appendicitis is the
most common acute surgical emergency of the
abdomen.
WHAT
IS THE CAUSE OF APPENDICITIS?
to appendicitis in a small number
of people. Genetics ma/ be a factor in others.
For example, appendicitis that
runs in families may result from a genetic
variant that predisposes a person to appendicitis?
WHAT
ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms of appendicitis may
include pain in the abdomen, first around the
belly button, then moving to the lower right
area, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting,
constipation or diarrhea, inability to pass gas.
low fever that begins after other symptoms and
abdominal swelling.
Not everyone with appendicitis has all the
symptoms. The pain intensifies and worsens when
moving, taking deep breaths, to ugh i ng or
sneezing. The area beco mes
very te nder.
Laxatives and pain medications
should not be taken in this situation. Anyone
with these symptoms need to see a qualified
surgeon immediately
HOW
IS THE DIAGNOSIS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS
MADE?
Examination of the abdomen helps narrow the
diagnosis. Location of the pain and tenderness
is important. Pain is a symptom desc ribed by a
pati ent, tendern ess is the res ponse to being
touched. Two signs, called peritoneal signs,
suggest that the lining erf the abdomen is
inflamed and surgery may be needed: rebound
tenderness and guarding. These are valuable
indicators of inflammation but not all patients
have them. In addition, a raised total blood
count confirms the diagnosis. appendicitis is the commonest
abdominal emergency and requires immediate
surgery.
WHAT
IS THE TREATMENT FOR APPENDICITIS
Surgery
Acute appendicitis is treated by
surgery to remove the appendix. The operation
may be performed through a standard small
incision in the right lower part of the abdomen,
or it may be performed using a laparoscope,
which requires three to four smaller incisions.
If other conditions are suspected in addition to appendicitis, they may be
identified using laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is
preferable to open surgery because the incision
is smaller, recovery time is quicker, and less
pain medication is
required. Antibiotics and other
treatments.
If the
diagnosis is uncertain, people may be watched
and sometimes treated with antibiotics. This
approach is taken when the doctor suspects that
the patient's symptoms may have a nonsurgical or
medically treatable cause. If the cause of the
pain is infectious, symptoms resolve with
intravenous antibiotics and intravenous fluids.
In general, however. appendicitis cannot be treated
with antibiotics alone and will require surgery.
WHAT
ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF ACUTE APPENDICITIS?
The most serious complication of appendicitis is rupture. The
appendix bursts or tears, if appendicitis is not diagnosed
quickly and joes untreated. Infants, young
children, and older adults are at highest risk,
A ruptured appendix can lead to peritonitis and
abscess.
Peritonitis is a dangerous infection
that happens when bacteria and other contents of
the torn appendix leak into the abdomen. In a
few patients, complications of appendicitis can lead to organ
failure and
death.
ARE
ANY SPECIALTESTS REQUIRED?
An
ultras ound St CT Scan of the abdomen may help i
n reaching the diagnosis in case the clinical
examination and other investigations are
inconclusive
