Daijiworld News Network – Udupi / Manipal (VM)

Udupi, Aug 20: Appendicitis occurs in 7% of the population, with an incidence of 1.1 cases per 1000 people per year.

In order to create health awareness on this phenomenon, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal will be organizing a special “Free Appendicitis Clinic” from Aug 21 to Aug 26. At the clinic checking and examination of the problems related to appendicitis will be done, stated a press release.

Incidence of appendicitis is lower in population with a higher intake of dietary fiber as it decreases the viscosity of feces, decrease bowel transit time, and discourage formation of fecaliths. The delay in diagnosis and treatment of appendicitis may lead to appendicle perforation and complications.

According to Dr B H Anand Rao Prof and Head of the Department of Surgery, the major symptoms of appendicitis are abdominal pain. The pain is so difficult to pinpoint that when asked to point to the area of the pain, most people indicate the location of the pain with a circular motion of their hand around the central part of their abdomen. Nausea and vomiting along with loss of appetite also occur in appendicitis. Patients often have an elevated temperature.

Appendix is a small, tube-like structure attached to the first part of the colon. Appendicitis is an inflammation of the appendix. It is thought that appendicitis begins when the opening from the appendix into the cecum becomes blocked - may be due to a build-up of thick mucus within the appendix or stool that enters the appendix or the lymphatic tissue in the appendix that swell and block the appendix. Bacteria or virus which enters the appendix begin to invade (infect) the wall of the appendix. The body responds to the invasion by mounting an attack on the bacteria or virus through inflammation.
 

The most serious complication of appendicitis is rupture. The appendix bursts or tears if appendicitis is not diagnosed quickly and goes untreated. Infants, young children, and the old are at highest risk. A ruptured appendix can lead to peritonitis and abscess. Peritonitis is a dangerous infection that happens when bacteria and other contents of the torn appendix leak into the abdomen. The body is able not only to contain the inflammation and infection but to resolve it as well. In this situation, the surgeon may remove the appendix sometimes, 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 appendices can lead to an infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and the pelvis.

Newer techniques for removing the appendix involve the use of laparoscope, which is a thin telescope attached to a video camera that allows the surgeon to inspect the inside of the abdomen through a very small wound. If appendicitis is found, the appendix can be removed with special instruments that can be passed into the abdomen, just like the laparoscope, through small puncture wounds. The benefits of the laparoscopic technique include less post-operative pain and a speedier recovery. Appendectomy, the conventional method is also in practice.