Acute appendicitis

Proven content

Acute appendicitis occurs at any age, but usually between the ages of 5 and 40. It is one of the most common acute abdominal diseases. This ailment is a direct consequence of the closure of the appendix to the cecum. Untreated appendicitis leads to widespread peritonitis that is life-threatening.

Acute appendicitis – definition

Acute appendicitis is a condition that may be a direct consequence of closing its mouth to the cecum. The cause of blockage of this opening is usually the presence of fecal calculus, which is formed due to the storage of intestinal contents around the remnants of plant fibers and the dehydration of the formed mass. Whatever the cause that led to the disease, there are symptoms of acute appendicitis. Inflammation is quite common (it is estimated that in 100 people it affects about 000 per year) and can occur at any age. However, infants and the elderly are less likely to suffer from acute appendicitis. Its symptoms can occur in any, even the most unexpected situations, e.g. at school or while traveling on vacation.

Untreated ailment in most patients leads to peritonitis, which is a life-threatening condition.

What is an appendix?

It is a fragment of the digestive tract (formerly the appendix was called the “blind bowel”). Its dimensions can be very different: its length can be five to twenty centimeters, as is its location: usually the appendix departs from the caecum and lies near the right iliac fossa, but sometimes it can be hidden behind it (the pancreatic process) or hide between the intestines. Sometimes it also goes up towards the liver. Many people ask themselves what the appendix is ​​for. Well, its role is not entirely clear. The inside of the ridge is filled with a large amount of absorbent tissue, which in turn may indicate its role in our immune system. People who have had their appendix removed do not have any specific symptoms.

Acute appendicitis – causes

In more than half of the cases, the cause of acute appendicitis is difficult to determine. Although there are several opinions on this. The most common factors contributing to the development of ailments include:

1. the presence of fecal stones clogging the lumen of the appendix;
2. lumpy lesions in the lumen of the appendix, e.g. the presence of a carcinoid tumor;
3. the presence of human roundworm, pinworms or tapeworms, i.e. parasites that can clog the lumen of the appendix.

Symptoms of acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis usually begins suddenly with abdominal pain, often around the navel, accompanied by nausea and quite often vomiting. In the following hours, these pains change their initial location and spread to the area of ​​the right iliac fossa. Then they become sharper and clearer. The intensification of pain makes the patient most likely to lie down with his legs tucked up or on his right side. The body temperature rises gradually, usually oscillates around 37,5–38,5 ° C. The heart rate is quite accelerated.

It should be remembered that the symptoms of acute appendicitis are sometimes different and differ from those discussed above. The course of the disease, e.g. in children, is often extremely violent and resembles a viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea), while in the elderly, despite the advancement of the disease process, the symptoms are often poorly expressed.

How do we diagnose acute appendicitis?

Patients who come to the doctor with suspicion of appendicitis first undergo a physical examination. The symptoms your doctor finds during the examination depends on where the affected appendix is ​​located and whether the peritoneum has been irritated. There is, for example, soreness in the so-called McBurney point – 1/3 of the distance between the anterior superior iliac spine and the navel. Moreover, it is positive Rovsing symptom (severe pain in the right lower abdomen under the pressure of the left lower abdomen, due to an increase in intestinal gas pressure in the colon); Jaworski’s symptom: The patient is lying down and his right lower limb is stretched straight in the knee: the doctor presses the area of ​​the appendage at the same time, which causes severe pain. Positive peritonitis can be found in patients who develop peritonitis in addition to appendicitis Blumberg symptom, i.e. the occurrence of severe pain when the examiner suddenly releases pressure on the abdomen. In addition, the board-like tension of the abdominal muscles is felt.

Imaging tests performed when acute appendicitis is suspected include:

1. Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity and pelvis (the purpose of this examination is to exclude other ailments, e.g. kidney stones);
2. Computed tomography (it is performed in severe cases in diagnostics; it is very effective, however, the experience of a radiologist who reads the test result is necessary.

Do you need an e-Referral for research? You don’t need to physically see a doctor to get them. You can use the online visit option and receive a referral within 10 minutes.

Moreover, it is important to differentiate acute appendicitis from other ailments, as the clinical picture of the disease is not always clear-cut. The following conditions are taken into account:

1. endometriosis,
2. acute mesenteric lymphadenitis,
3. rupture of an ectopic pregnancy,
4. ovarian cyst torsion,
5. pyelonephritis,
6. acute cholecystitis,
7. rupture of the Graaf follicle (usually occurs in the middle of a woman’s monthly cycle),
8. Crohn’s disease,
9. acute pancreatitis,
10. acute gastroenteritis,
11. acute cholecystitis,
12. ureterolithiasis,
13. peptic ulcer perforation,
14. inflammation of the pelvic organs (in women),
15. bowel obstruction.

Treatment of acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis requires immediate surgical treatment. If we observe symptoms that signal this disease, we should go to the hospital as soon as possible. The method of choice is appendectomythat is, removal of the appendix during surgery. Currently, this operation is most often performed using the laporoscopic method, thanks to which the postoperative period is milder and it is necessary to administer a large amount of painkillers. Moreover, the patient is discharged from the hospital much faster than after the classical method. Taking into account the severity of the appendicitis, antibiotic therapy is usually used.

In the case of acute appendicitis, neither laxatives nor warm compresses should be applied to the abdomen. While waiting for the doctor or the ambulance service, you can put a cold compress or an ice pack over your right hip.

Usually, after the recovery period is over, there are no special medical requirements. However, it is necessary to report to the doctor that you have undergone an operation to remove the appendix (especially in the event of possible abdominal pain).

Can the disease be prevented?

There is virtually no way to prevent acute appendicitis. Remember to always see a doctor in the event of severe abdominal pain. It must not be underestimated. Pain, however, may be a signal to perform diagnostic tests for digestive disorders, which is evidence of gastrointestinal hypersensitivity.

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