Amanda Mirmanesh, D.O., is an OB/GYN at Inspira Medical Center Vineland. Follow her as she arrives...
Read MoreAppendicitis is a medical emergency that almost always requires immediate surgery to remove the appendix, called an appendectomy before it bursts. In the U.S., 1 in 20 people will get appendicitis as a result of a blockage in the appendix.
What is Appendicitis?
Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix, a small organ in the lower right abdomen. The condition often begins with vague abdominal pain that intensifies and localizes around the appendix. Prompt medical attention is crucial, as untreated appendicitis can lead to a burst appendix, causing severe complications like peritonitis, or inflammation of the tissue lining the abdominal cavity.
What are Appendicitis Symptoms?
If you have appendicitis, you might begin to feel vague abdominal pain in the lower right abdomen, accompanied by symptoms like nausea, vomiting and fever.
Other symptoms may include abdominal pain starting around the belly button and shifting to the lower right abdomen, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, low-grade fever, abdominal bloating and tenderness, inability to pass gas, diarrhea, constipation, general malaise and fatigue, and sharp pain that worsens with movement, coughing or sneezing.
How is Appendicitis Diagnosed?
Diagnosing appendicitis involves a medical history assessment, physical examination and diagnostic tests. Physicians inquire about symptoms, focusing on abdominal pain, and perform a physical examination to identify tenderness and signs of peritonitis. Blood tests like a white blood cell count and imaging studies like ultrasound or CT scans help confirm the diagnosis.
three
Appendicitis Treatments
Appendectomy
An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the inflamed appendix, usually performed using minimally invasive techniques for a quicker recovery.
Antibiotics
In some cases, mild appendicitis may be treated with antibiotics alone, though surgery is a more common and definitive approach.
Percutaneous drainage
For abscessed appendicitis, a pocket of infection, a drainage procedure may be performed to remove pus from the abdominal cavity before surgery.
Our Approach to Appendicitis
Inspira’s emergency rooms are staffed with experienced surgeons who can quickly remove an inflamed appendix before it bursts or perforates, releasing its infectious contents into the abdominal cavity.
