In the right lowers abdomen , the small
intestine joins the large intestine. It connects to the side of the large
intestine, which means that a “blind” piece is formed at the beginning: the
so-called appendix. A worm-shaped appendage up to eight centimeters long
hangs from this appendix - the appendix . It
is inflamed with " appendicitis ". In
technical terms, the appendix is called "appendix vermiformis" from
which the scientific - and more correct - name for appendicitis arises:
Appendicitis ("itis" stands for "inflammation" in medical
language), in German "appendix inflammation".
The cause of appendicitis is usually that food particles press into the
appendix and trigger inflammation there, because there is an entrance but no
exit. Appendicitis can occur at any age . Usually,
however, children between the ages of ten and 15 are affected, boys more often
than girls. For more information, see the chapter on appendicitis in children . Appendicitis is less
common in adults. The following factors can promote appendicitis:
- constipation
- Intestinal
infections
- Worm
infestation
- Foreign
bodies in the intestines
- Tumors
- a
mechanical kinking of the appendix
Appendicitis often begins with irritation of the appendix, which often
goes away on its own after a few days. An inflamed appendix, on the other
hand, does not go away on its own - it should be treated by a doctor.
Doctors differentiate acute appendicitis from chronic appendicitis. If left untreated, acute
appendicitis can lead to complications, such as a ruptured appendix
("perforated appendicitis"). She should have an
operation. The chronic, also called "chronic recurrent
appendicitis", occurs again and again over the years and subsides on its
own after a few hours.
Appendicitis:
symptoms
Doctors differentiate between simple and "destructive"
appendicitis. In the simple appendage, the appendix is inflamed and
swollen. The inflammation either subsides or worsens as pus
forms. Destructive appendicitis can then develop, in which the intestinal
tissue dissolves and the appendix can
rupture. It's life threatening, so it's important to take the symptoms
seriously. You can recognize appendicitis by these signs:
- pulling
or stabbing pain at the level of the navel (in pregnant women: in the
upper abdomen)
- later
pain in the right lower abdomen
- Pulling
the right leg (a pain-free lifting of the knee is not possible)
- Fever (often the
inflammation runs without a fever)
- Loss
of appetite
- Nausea
(often in children)
- Vomiting (usually not in the
elderly)
- constipation
- Flatulence
- diarrhea
- increased
pulse
Where the pain occurs, right or left, can vary. Children’s entire
stomach hurts, while pregnant women are more likely to have pain in the upper
abdomen or back because the unborn child is pushing out the intestines. In
the elderly, appendicitis can even proceed without pain. Sometimes
appendicitis develops slowly and the typical symptoms develop over days.
Anyone who has a stomachache and fears appendicitis often looks for
methods that can be used to test for yourself whether the appendix is
inflamed. For example, there is the “McBurny point” ,
which is pain-sensitive in appendicitis, in the middle of the
imaginary connecting line between the navel and the right hip bone, or
the “Lanz point” in the right area between the two hip
bones. These pressure points do not cause severe pain in healthy people,
but they do in appendix patients.
Sufferers also experience severe pain when they are asked to lift their
right knee against resistance while standing ("psoas
sign"). However, as a layperson, you cannot recognize appendicitis
yourself, which is why a doctor's visit is essential if you have typical
symptoms.
Appendicitis: when to
see a doctor?
If an inflamed appendix breaks through, there is a danger to life . So, if you experience the above
symptoms, you should definitely see a doctor. In the case of acute
appendicitis in particular, it is important not to lose any time: after two
days at the latest, the risk of life-threatening complications such
as peritonitis is high.
Which doctor to consult first is irrelevant: it is important that those affected
visit one at all. If you have mild symptoms, an appointment with your
family doctor is sufficient. If the pain is severe, it is sometimes better
to go straight to a clinic. Don't wait until
Monday if the symptoms show up over a weekend!
Appendicitis: This is how the doctor makes the
diagnosis
If a doctor suspects
appendicitis after talking to the patient (medical history) and an initial
physical examination, he will take blood from the patient. In the
case of appendicitis, the blood values show increased
inflammation parameters. The doctor can use ultrasound to look
at the abdomen and see how far the appendicitis has progressed. The result
is decisive for the following therapy.
Appendicitis: The Right Treatment
In most cases, patients with
appendicitis cannot avoid surgery. "Appendectomy" is the
technical term for surgical appendectomy. For the doctors, it is a routine procedure that
takes around 20 minutes. The operation is either
"open" or via a " laparoscopy ",
in which the surgeons gain access to the inflamed appendix through tiny
incisions in the skin. After such a so-called laparoscopyonly
tiny scars remain. In an open operation, the doctors reach the inflamed
appendix through an incision about the length of a thumb on the right lower abdomen. You
separate it from the appendix, sew up the interface on the intestine and of
course the cut in the skin. In both types of surgery, the patient is under
general anesthesia and is given an antibiotic via a venous access to prevent
infections.
How long a patient has to
stay in hospital after completing an appendix operation depends on the course
of the operation. If everything went well, patients are still in the
hospital for observation for a few days, if complications arise, a longer stay
in the hospital may be necessary.
In the past, doctors often
treated appendicitis without surgery. They gave the patients antibiotics,
prescribed bed rest and a strict diet, and waited. This procedure is no
longer common today because complications can arise within a few hours that
require quick action. Only in children (see chapter " Appendicitis in Children ") do other treatment
strategies apply.
By the way: An inflamed
appendix cannot be soothed with home remedies such as a
hot water bottle on the stomach. At most in the case of chronic
appendicitis, the course of which those affected are already familiar with,
warmth can be beneficial. If you have acute appendicitis, it is important
to see a doctor. Otherwise there is a risk of a ruptured appendix, which
will lead to peritonitis. @read more:-
