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Appendicitis is a sudden medical condition which happens due to the inflammation of the appendix. This is a classic example of a medical emergency and arises when the appendix is so enlarged that it requires removal. This removal is normally done either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. This is one of the most common reasons why a person could suffer with abdominal pain. Appendicitis could be of the following types Rumbling appendicitis which is not an acute form of appendicitis or pseudoappendicitis which is when the body faces a condition which is similar to appendicitis but is not.
Thus when the question what is appendicitis arises, one has to understand that it is a serious sickness. Surgery is the most efficient treatment. Thus appendicitis can be termed as a surgical emergency and is successfully treated only by the removal of the extra growth that is typical of this disease.
There is a tube like extension related to the large intestine or the colon. This has a big role in the digestive process. The appendix as such does not perform any function in any of the processes but there is relatively no change even if this organ is not present. The main reason why this disease is caused is because of the blockage of the feces or the pressure applied against the inflamed lymph nodes. When the appendix is throttled then this situation occurs. In this condition, the organ stops getting any blood supply and thus finally proves fatal. After this, a lot of bacteria grow and this causes immense inflammation. Sometimes the appendix gets perforated as in acute appendicitis. In this condition we also find sepsis which is the condition of severe bacterial infection. Sometimes one has observed a lot of traumatic injury to the abdomen which causes appendicitis to develop. Appendicitis many a time is also a result of the genetic factors.
Acute appendicitis is found to happen fast and is easier to diagnose. Chronic appendicitis evolves and develops slowly and is not as easy a diagnosis. The pain in the abdominal area is typical of appendicitis and is caused around the area of the umbilical cord. Slowly the pain grows faster on the lower side of the abdomen on the right side. This is increased by a lot of physical exertion.
The interesting part of appendicitis is that people often wonder what appendicitis is as they aren’t aware that the condition is very difficult to diagnose. This is because the elderly, for example never show up any indicative signs of this disease. Such an appendicitis where there is no proper symptom visible is referred to as atypical appendicitis. It has been observed that the mortality rate in this kind of appendicitis is very high.
Appendicitis occurs in a person of any sex and age. The occurrence is found to be higher in men. Besides, this any child between the ages of three and fifteen also has been found to get this disease. Children normally get acute appendicitis. The others like the elderly people and the victim contract atypical appendicitis.
Laparoscopy surgery is the latest method of appendicitis surgery. This surgery consists of making three or four incisions in the abdominal area. These incisions are around 0.25 inches and 0.5 inches long. Then a special tool called the laparoscope is inserted into the incisions. This laparoscope is attached to a monitor on the external part of the patient’s body. This is so made that it helps the doctor to supervise the infected abdominal area. The remaining two incisions are to remove the appendix .This is done by using instruments of surgery. Laparoscopic surgery needs general anesthesia. It lasts up to two hours. The person can stay for a day in the hospital or for some hours. The whole process of recovery is reliant on the seriousness of the condition. If the appendix has broken then the healing takes a longer time. The patient should restrict his activity level and allow the tissues to heal. Diet or lifestyle changes are not needed for convalescing after an appendicitis operation.
The patient is monitored well after a laparoscopic surgery and pain killers and medications are given to heal the process. As the person recovers he would have clear liquids initially and then slowly get out of bed and get back to regular work. Complete recovery of appendicitis takes around six to eight weeks.
It is important to understand that treatment for appendicitis is entirely dependent on the immediate treatment that is given. There should be no delay or undue postponement.
