Acute appendicitis:
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix. Most common surgical emergency.
Occurs when appendix becomes inflamed from ulceration – caused by faecal mass, foreign body, stricture, viral infection.
Clinical features – initially a central abdominal colic, then shifts to right iliac fossa; fever; tachycardia; coughing painful; shallow breaths; vomiting
Positive psoas sign – attempt to raise right thigh against examiners hand on right knee pain
Positive obturator sign – flex right hip and knee rotate leg internally pain
If left untreated abscess, perforation, peritonitis death
Differential diagnosis – ectopic pregnancy; food poisoning; diverticulitis; perforated ulcer; cystitis; Crohn’s disease
Complications – perforation ingested contents spill into abdominal cavity peritonitis
Management – appendicectomy is only effective treatment
We have not yet got to this page. We will eventually. Please contact us if you have something to contribute to it or sign up for our newsletter or like us on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter. |
Page last updated:
Comments are closed.