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APPENDICITIS

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix caused by a blockage and bacterial infection. It most commonly occurs in people ages 10-30 and symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever. Tests like blood work, imaging scans and physical exams are used to diagnose appendicitis. Treatment is an appendectomy, usually laparoscopically, to surgically remove the appendix. Complications can include a ruptured appendix requiring open surgery and abdominal cleaning. Recovery takes 1-2 weeks with rest, pain medication and avoiding strenuous activity.

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Richie Marie Baja
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48 views

APPENDICITIS

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix caused by a blockage and bacterial infection. It most commonly occurs in people ages 10-30 and symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and fever. Tests like blood work, imaging scans and physical exams are used to diagnose appendicitis. Treatment is an appendectomy, usually laparoscopically, to surgically remove the appendix. Complications can include a ruptured appendix requiring open surgery and abdominal cleaning. Recovery takes 1-2 weeks with rest, pain medication and avoiding strenuous activity.

Uploaded by

Richie Marie Baja
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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APPENDICITIS

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from


your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.
A blockage in the lining of the appendix that results in infection is the likely cause of
appendicitis. The bacteria multiply rapidly, causing the appendix to become inflamed,
swollen and filled with pus. If not treated promptly, the appendix can rupture.
Although anyone can develop appendicitis, most often it occurs in people between the
ages of 10 and 30.

Signs and symptoms

 Sudden pain that begins on the right side of the lower abdomen
 Sudden pain that begins around your navel and often shifts to your lower right
abdomen
 Pain that worsens if you cough, walk or make other jarring movements
 Nausea and vomiting
 Loss of appetite
 Low-grade fever that may worsen as the illness progresses
 Constipation or diarrhea
 Abdominal bloating
 Flatulence
The site of your pain may vary, depending on your age and the position of your appendix.
When you're pregnant, the pain may seem to come from your upper abdomen because
your appendix is higher during pregnancy.

Complications

Appendicitis can cause serious complications, such as:

 A ruptured appendix. A rupture spreads infection throughout your abdomen


(peritonitis). Possibly life-threatening, this condition requires immediate surgery to
remove the appendix and clean your abdominal cavity.
 A pocket of pus that forms in the abdomen. If your appendix bursts, you may develop
a pocket of infection (abscess). In most cases, a surgeon drains the abscess by placing
a tube through your abdominal wall into the abscess. The tube is left in place for
about two weeks, and you're given antibiotics to clear the infection.
Once the infection is clear, you'll have surgery to remove the appendix. In some cases,
the abscess is drained, and the appendix is removed immediately.

Tests and procedures

 Physical exam to assess pain. Apply gentle pressure on the painful area. When the
pressure is suddenly released, appendicitis pain will often feel worse, signaling that
the adjacent peritoneum is inflamed.
Also look for abdominal rigidity and a tendency to stiffen the abdominal muscles in
response to pressure over the inflamed appendix (guarding).
 Blood test. This allows the doctor to check for a high white blood cell count, which
may indicate an infection.
 Urine test. The doctor may want to have a urinalysis to make sure that a urinary tract
infection or a kidney stone isn't causing the pain.
 Imaging tests. The doctor may also recommend an abdominal X-ray, an abdominal
ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) to help confirm appendicitis or find other causes for the pain.

Treatment
Appendicitis treatment usually involves surgery to remove the inflamed appendix. Before
surgery the patient may be given a dose of antibiotics to treat infection.

The surgery to remove the appendix is called appendectomy.

 Laparoscopic or “lap” appendectomy is a minimally invasive surgery to remove the


appendix through several small incisions, rather than through one large one.
Recovery time from the lap appendectomy is short. The surgery can be done through
a few small abdominal incisions (laparoscopic surgery). During a laparoscopic
appendectomy, the surgeon inserts special surgical tools and a video camera into
your abdomen to remove your appendix.
 But laparoscopic surgery isn't appropriate for everyone. If the appendix has ruptured
and infection has spread beyond the appendix or have an abscess, the patient may
need an open appendectomy, which allows the surgeon to clean the abdominal
cavity.

The patient might spend one or two days in the hospital after the appendectomy.

Draining an abscess before appendix surgery

If your appendix has burst and an abscess has formed around it, the abscess may be
drained by placing a tube through in the skin into the abscess. Appendectomy can be
performed several weeks later after controlling the infection.

Health Education

 Avoid strenuous activity at first. If the appendectomy was done laparoscopically,


limit the activity for three to five days. If the patient had an open appendectomy, limit
the activity for 10 to 14 days. Always ask the doctor about limitations on your activity
and when you can resume normal activities after surgery.
 Support the abdomen when coughing. Place a pillow over the abdomen and apply
pressure before coughing, laughing or moving to help reduce pain.
 Call the doctor if the pain medications aren't helping. Being in pain puts extra
stress on the body and slows the healing process. If the patient is still in pain despite
the pain medications, call the doctor.
 Get up and move when ready. Start slowly and increase the activity as the patient
feel up to it. Start with short walks.
 Sleep when tired. As the body heals, the patient may find that feeling of sleepiness
than usual. Take it easy and rest when the patient need to.
 Discuss returning to work or school with the doctor. The patient can return to
work when he/she feels up to it. Children may be able to return to school less than a
week after surgery. They should wait two to four weeks to resume strenuous activity,
such as gym classes or sports.

Alternative medicine

The doctor will prescribe medications to help the patient control pain after the
appendectomy. Some complementary and alternative treatments, when used with
medications, can help control pain. Ask the doctor about safe options, such as:

 Distracting activities, such as listening to music and talking with friends, that take the
mind off from pain. Distraction can be especially effective with children.
 Guided imagery, such as closing the eyes and thinking about a favorite place.

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