Appendicitis: Causes, Symptoms, Tests, Treatment & Prevention

Appendicitis: Causes, Symptoms, Tests, Treatment & Prevention Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix, a finger-shaped pouch that projects from your colon on the lower right side of your abdomen.

Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of appendicitis may include:

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. When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with a doctor if you or your child has worrisome signs or symptoms. Severe abdominal pain requires immediate medical attention. Causes
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. 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

Appendicitis may be caused by various infections such as virus, bacteria, or parasites, in your digestive tract. Or it m...
02/03/2023

Appendicitis may be caused by various infections such as virus, bacteria, or parasites, in your digestive tract. Or it may happen when the tube that joins your large intestine and appendix is blocked or trapped by stool. Sometimes tumors can cause appendicitis.

Open surgeryIn some circumstances, keyhole surgery is not recommended and open surgery is used instead.These include:whe...
02/03/2023

Open surgery
In some circumstances, keyhole surgery is not recommended and open surgery is used instead.

These include:

when the appendix has already burst and formed a lump called an appendix mass
people who have previously had open abdominal surgery
In open surgery, a single larger cut is made in the lower right-hand side of the abdomen to remove the appendix.

When there's widespread infection of the inner lining of the abdomen (peritonitis), it's sometimes necessary to operate through a cut along the middle of the abdomen. This procedure is called a laparotomy.

As with keyhole surgery, the incision is closed using either dissolvable stitches or regular stitches that need to be removed at a later date.

After both types of surgery, the removed appendix is sent to a laboratory to check for signs of cancer.

This is a precautionary measure and it's rare for a serious problem to be found.

Keyhole surgeryKeyhole surgery (laparoscopy) is usually the preferred method of removing the appendix because the recove...
02/03/2023

Keyhole surgery
Keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) is usually the preferred method of removing the appendix because the recovery tends to be quicker than with open surgery.

The operation involves making 3 or 4 small cuts (incisions) in your tummy (abdomen).

Special instruments are inserted, including:

a tube that gas is pumped through to inflate your abdomen – this allows the surgeon to see your appendix more clearly and gives them more room to work
a laparoscope – a small tube with a light and a camera, which relays images of the inside of the abdomen to a television monitor
small surgical tools used to remove the appendix
After your appendix has been removed, dissolvable stitches may be used to close the incisions.

If regular stitches are used, they'll need to be removed at your GP surgery 7 to 10 days later.

Appendectomy - Post-Operative CareAfter surgery, the patient is taken to a surgical recovery area where they are taken c...
18/09/2022

Appendectomy - Post-Operative Care
After surgery, the patient is taken to a surgical recovery area where they are taken care of till the effect of the anesthesia wears
The doctors and staff will maintain a constant vigil on the Pulse rate, breathing, and temperature.
The patient is transferred to their bed on the ward or separate room once their vital statistics are normal and the effect of anesthesia wears off.
If the patient has undergone an operation for an unruptured appendix their recovery is far quicker.
Clear fluids are given the next morning and if it is tolerated then solid food can be started and intravenous (IV) fluids stopped.
The patient can start small physical activities like walking to the toilet immediately or by the next morning.
The doctors and staff monitor for infection. If the incision is healing well, the patient can leave in 2-3 days.
Once at home, care should be taken that the wound is completely dry and clean.
If the patient feels any fever or increased pain they should contact the surgeon immediately.

Appendectomy is the standard treatment for acute appendicitis. Since the 1990s, antibiotic therapy has sometimes been pr...
18/09/2022

Appendectomy is the standard treatment for acute appendicitis. Since the 1990s, antibiotic therapy has sometimes been proposed as an alternative to immediate appendectomy. How effective are antibiotics in adults with uncomplicated acute appendicitis, and what is the risk of complications? To answer these questions, we conducted a review of the literature using the standard Prescrire methodology. A systematic review with meta-analysis included four randomised trials of antibiotics versus immediate appendectomy, in 900 patients hospitalised with uncomplicated appendicitis. The studies included only patients with few severe symptoms, thus undermining the strength of the results. Antibiotic therapy was usually administered intravenously first, then orally. The antibiotics used were amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, cefotaxime, or a fluoroquinolone. Metronidazole or tinidazole was often added. The total duration of antibiotic treatment was 8 to 15 days. The overall incidence of complications of appendicitis (perforation, peritonitis and surgical wound infections) was 25% in the immediate appendectomy group versus 18% in the antibiotic group. The frequency of perforations and peritonitis did not differ between the groups. All symptoms of appendicitis disappeared, without relapse or rehospitalisation during the first month, in 78% of patients in the antibiotic group. After one year of follow-up, 63% of patients treated with antibiotics were asymptomatic and had no complications or recurrences. In another systematic review of five randomised trials, outcome at one year was optimal in 73% of patients treated with antibiotics alone versus 97% of patients who had immediate appendectomy. In practice, in early 2014, appendectomy remains the first-line treatment for uncomplicated acute appendicitis. In some still poorly characterised patients, the harm-benefit balance of antibiotic therapy is probably better than that of immediate appendectomy. When informed of the risks, some patients are likely to choose antibiotic therapy.

Common surgical instruments during appendectomy removal surgery and suturing materials to be used
18/09/2022

Common surgical instruments during appendectomy removal surgery and suturing materials to be used

If you have appendicitis, your appendix will usually need to be removed as soon as possible. This operation is known as ...
17/09/2022

If you have appendicitis, your appendix will usually need to be removed as soon as possible. This operation is known as an appendicectomy or appendectomy.
Surgery is often also recommended if there's a chance you have appendicitis but it's not been possible to make a clear diagnosis
This is because it's considered safer to remove the appendix than risk it bursting.
In humans, the appendix does not perform any important function and removing it does not cause any long-term problems.

PreventionThere’s no sure way to prevent appendicitis. But you might be able to lower your risk of developing it by eati...
17/09/2022

Prevention
There’s no sure way to prevent appendicitis. But you might be able to lower your risk of developing it by eating a fiber-rich diet. Although more research is needed on the potential role of diet, appendicitis is less common in countries where people eat high-fiber diets.
Foods that are high in fiber include:
fruits
vegetables
lentils, split peas, beans, and other legumes
oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat, and other whole grains

Appendicitis in pregnancyAcute appendicitis is the most common non-obstetric emergency requiring surgery during pregnanc...
17/09/2022

Appendicitis in pregnancy
Acute appendicitis is the most common non-obstetric emergency requiring surgery during pregnancy. It affects an estimated 0.04 to 0.2 percent of pregnant people.
The symptoms of appendicitis may be mistaken for routine discomfort from pregnancy. Pregnancy may also cause your appendix to shift upward in your abdomen, which can affect the location of appendicitis-related pain. This can make it harder to diagnose.
Delayed diagnosis and treatment may increase your risk of complications, including miscarriage.

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