Acute Appedicitis

Acute appendicitis - is a small closed-end tube that is attached to the cecum, which is the first portion of the large bowel.

The inner lining of the appendix produces a small amount of mucus that flows through the open center of the appendix and into the cecum. Like the rest of the colon, the wall of the appendix also contains a layer of muscle, but the muscle is poorly developed.

This part of this internal organ may seem to offer little functionality, however once inflamed it causes unbearable pain to the patient. This inflammation is called appendicitis; and once the inflammation advances in severity it leads to acute appendicitis.
Appendicitis begins once the opening of from the appendix to the cecum is obstructed by the thick mucus within the appendix or fecal matter that enters the appendix from the cecum.

Appendicitis Symptoms

The mucus or fecal matter hardens, becomes rock-like, and blocks the opening. The hardened mucus and fecal is called fecalith. There are also cases when the lymphatic tissues also swell. Once the opening of the appendix is obstructed, the bacteria living inside the appendix infect the wall and this leads to inflammation. As you can imagine this inflammation then eventually causes the severe pain to the lower right part of the abdomen.

In fact, if the inflammation is severe enought it becomes an acute appendicitis. Other complications may also arise once the appendicitis reaches a severe enought state. One of which is perforation. Perforation of the appendix can lead to a periappendiceal abscess or infection of the entire lining of the abdomen and the pelvis.

A lesser common complication of appendicitis is blockage of the intestine. Blockage occurs when the inflammation near the appendix causes the intestinal muscle to stop working; which in turn prevents the intestinal contents from passing. The only treatment for acute appendicitis is surgical treatment.

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. However, the “healing” process depends upon the severity of the infection. Once the inflammation is severe and becomes an acute appendicitis, the only option that doctors have at that point is to perform a surgical treatment by means of removing the appendix.

Acute appendicitis may lead to serious complications. If you begin to suffer the symptoms of abdominal pain, have it checked out immediately.