The appendix is located in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen and arises from the part of the colon called the caecum. This is also the area where the small intestines join the colon (large intestines). Appendix can get inflamed and this is called appendicitis. This is an emergency that requires prompt medical attention and surgery to remove the appendix, otherwise it may worsen, form pus and even burst (perforate) spreading the infection throughout the entire abdomen. This may make a person very sick within 24 hours, and be potentially even life-threatening.
Common symptoms of appendicitis may not be limited to, but include the following:
Please call for immediate medical attention and assessment, which will include our specialist taking a history of your symptoms, doing a physical examination, and possible imaging adjunct investigations (CT scan etc.). Subsequent management will then depend on each individual’s clinical signs and symptoms. Organs that are near to the appendix are the colon and small intestines (ileum) and also the ovaries in the female. Females of child-bearing age should have a urine pregnancy test to exclude an ectopic pregnancy.
Appendicitis is usually treated with a laparoscopic (key-hole) surgery to remove the appendix. At the same time, the surrounding organs are also checked and all the pus will be washed out. Occasionally, the infection may be very bad or if the colon is not healthy, a slightly larger open incision may be made to finish the operation safely.
If you have the above symptoms and think you may have appendicitis, stop eating, drinking (start fasting) and see a doctor as soon as possible.
