Appendectomy (cont.)
What are the complications of appendicitis?
The most frequent complication of appendicitis is perforation. Perforation of
the appendix can lead to a peri-appendiceal abscess (collection of infected pus)
or diffuse peritonitis (infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and the
pelvis). The
major reason for appendiceal perforation is delay in diagnosis and
treatment.
A less common complication of appendicitis is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs when the
inflammation surrounding the appendix causes the intestinal muscle to stop
working, and this prevents the intestinal contents
from passing. If the intestine above the blockage begins to fill with liquid and
gas, the abdomen distends and nausea and vomiting may occur. It then may be
necessary to drain the contents of the intestine through a tube passed through
the nose and esophagus and into the stomach and intestine.
A feared complication of appendicitis is sepsis, a condition in which
infecting bacteria enter the blood and travel to other parts of the body. This
is a very serious, even life-threatening complication. Fortunately, it occurs
infrequently.
What are the symptoms of appendicitis?
The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain. The pain is at first
diffuse and poorly localized, that is, not confined to one spot. (Poorly
localized pain is typical whenever a problem is confined to the
small intestine or colon, including
the appendix.) The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to
the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a
circular motion of their hand around the central part of
their abdomen.
As appendiceal inflammation increases, it extends through the appendix to its
outer covering and then to the lining of the abdomen,
a thin membrane called the
peritoneum. Once the peritoneum
becomes inflamed, the pain changes and then can be localized clearly to one
small area. Generally, this area is between the front of the right hip bone and
the belly button. The exact point is named after
Dr. Charles McBurney--McBurney's point. If the appendix ruptures and infection
spreads throughout the abdomen, the pain becomes diffuse again as the entire
lining of the abdomen becomes inflamed.
Nausea and vomiting also occur in appendicitis and may be due to intestinal
obstruction.
Next: How is appendicitis diagnosed? »
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