Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that
Appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix
into the cecum becomes blocked. The
blockage may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix or to stool that
enters the appendix from the cecum. The mucus or stool hardens, becomes
rock-like, and blocks the opening. This rock is called a fecalith (literally, a
rock of stool). At other times, the lymphatic tissue in the appendix may swell and block the appendix. Bacteria which normally are found within the appendix
then begin to invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. The body responds to the
invasion by mounting an attack on the bacteria, an attack called
inflammation.
(An alternative theory for the cause of
appendicitis is an initial rupture of
the appendix followed by spread of bacteria outside the appendix.. The cause of
such a rupture is unclear, but it may relate to changes that occur in the
lymphatic tissue that line the wall of the appendix.)
If the inflammation and infection spread through the wall of the appendix,
the appendix can rupture. After rupture, infection can spread throughout the
abdomen; however, it usually is
confined to a small area surrounding the appendix (forming a peri-appendiceal
abscess).
Sometimes, the body is successful in containing
("healing") the appendicitis without surgical treatment if the infection and
accompanying inflammation do not spread throughout the abdomen. The
inflammation, pain and symptoms may disappear. This is particularly true in
elderly patients and when antibiotics are used. The patients then may come to
the doctor long after the
episode of appendicitis with a lump or a mass in the right lower abdomen that is
due to the scarring that occurs during healing. This lump might raise the
suspicion of cancer.The most frequent complication of appendicitis is perforation. Perforation of
the appendix can lead to a peri-appendiceal abscess (collection of infected pus)
or diffuse peritonitis (infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and the
pelvis). The
major reason for appendiceal perforation is delay in diagnosis and
treatment.
A less common complication of appendicitis is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs when the
inflammation surrounding the appendix causes the intestinal muscle to stop
working, and this prevents the intestinal contents
from passing. If the intestine above the blockage begins to fill with liquid and
gas, the abdomen distends and nausea and vomiting may occur. It then may be
necessary to drain the contents of the intestine through a tube passed through
the nose and esophagus and into the stomach and intestine.
A feared complication of appendicitis is sepsis, a condition in which
infecting bacteria enter the blood and travel to other parts of the body. This
is a very serious, even life-threatening complication. Fortunately, it occurs
infrequently.As a conclusion, I happened to under gone to Appendectomy operation way back January 20, 1998. A pain that I''ve never wanted to feel again. It was an experience that I could never forget that once in my life I happened to be injected by an Anesthesia for my operation for me to survive in my Acute Appendicitis. So, guys, be ware always of your health ''cause its the only basis that will gonna live longer as we want to.