ACUTE APPENDICITIS

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ACUTE APPENDICITIS

INTRODUCTION

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common abdominal emergencies worldwide. Once it starts, there is no effective medical therapy, so appendicitis is considered a surgical emergency.

 DEFINITION: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix (it is a small organ, in the form of a tube, located in the lower right portion of the abdomen.

STATISTICS:

• About 10% of the population will develop acute appendicitis.
• It is most common between the ages of 10 and 20 years but can occur at any age
• Appendicitis is more common in men.

ETIOLOGY: The most common cause is intestinal obstruction because of fecalith,  lymphoid hyperplasia, fruit seeds, intestinal worms and tumors such as carcinoids.

CLINICAL CHART:

This disease is characterized by the appearance of intense pain,that commences as a central periumbilical colic, shiftsing after about 6 hours to the RIF.

It can present other symptoms such as; Anorexia, nausea, vomit, fever, diarrhea, Localized tenderness in RIF and  muscle guarding.

RISK FACTORS FOR PERFORATION:

These factors contribute to the perforation of the inflamed appendix more easily

• Extremes age  
• Immunosuppression
• Diabetes mellitus
• Previous abdominal surgery

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis of Appendicitis is usually by the symptoms, by the history clinical, physical exam, and imaging test such as ultrasound, abdominal x-rays, CT.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: The differential diagnosis is make with:

• Gastroenteritis
• Mesenteric adenitis
• Meckel’s diverticulitis
• Intussusception
• Regional enteritis
• Ureteric colic
• Pancreatitis

TREATMENT: In any case of appendicitis the treatment is surgical and the technique to be used will vary depending on the criterion of each surgeon and the clinical stage.

COMPLICATIONS

 Appendix perforation and sepsis

 Periappendiceal Abscess

 Death

CONCLUSION:  appendicitis is a very frequent intestinal inflammation caused by an obstruction, whose treatment is always surgical.

APENDICITIS AGUDA

INTRODUCCIÓN

La apendicitis aguda es una de las emergencias abdominales más comunes en todo el mundo. Una vez que comienza, no existe una terapia médica efectiva, por lo que la apendicitis se considera una emergencia quirúrgica.

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