Appendicitis

Question 1

Approximately 20% of all patients will present with evidence of perforation, but the percentage risk is much higher in patients under 5 or over 65 years of age.

Answer 1

Appendicitis

Question 2

obstruction of the appendiceal lumen is believed to be an important step in the development of appendicitisat least in some cases.

Answer 2

obstruction leads to bacterial overgrowth and luminal distension, with an increase in intraluminal pressure that can inhibit the flow of lymph and blood

Question 3

Appendiceal fecaliths (or appendicoliths) are found in ~50% of patients with gangrenous appendicitis who perforate but are rarely identified in those who have simple disease.

Answer 3

T

Question 4

No antibiotics?

Answer 4

It appears that some cases of simple acute appendicitis may resolve spontaneously or with antibiotic therapy with limited risk of recurrent disease. The use of antibiotics to treat uncomplicated appendicitis is currently being studied intensively. Preliminary data indicate that as many as 70% of patients who present with uncomplicated appendicitis based on computed tomography (CT) and who are treated with antibiotics alone will be free of recurrent disease for at least a year.