Acute Appendicitis

Appendicitis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the vermiform appendix

Appendix is continuation of the caecum and is first delineated during 5th month of gestation Worm-like extension --> hence called Vermiform Average length is 8-10 cm ( range 2-20 cm ) Has no fixed position ( hence the variation in presentation and diagnostic difficulty )

No longer thought as vestigeal -repository for commensal bacteria that assist in normal digestive processes and may allow for recolonization of the intestinal flora in times of enteric bacterial destruction ( Rosen's )

Faecolith Normal stool Lymphoid hyperplasia Indigestible food Mucus Parasites Tumours-Increased intraluminal pressure Bacterial overgrowth Ischaemia Necrosis-Perforation & other complications as Appendix mass AdhesionsAppendix abscess Peritonitis Sepsis Death

No known genetic cause but increased risk has been observed in some studies in those with a positive family history

Most common acute surgical abdominal emergency Most common non-obstetric surgical emergency in pregnancy Most common between ages 10-20 yrs More common in males Lifetime risk is 8.6 % in males and 6.9 % in females Lifetime appendicectomy rate is 12 % in males and 23 % in females Perforation is found in 13-20 % Normal appendix is found in 15-40 % of patients...