Who's affected?Īppendicitis is a common condition. If the obstruction causes inflammation and swelling, it could lead to increased pressure within the appendix, which may then burst.Īs the causes of appendicitis aren't fully understood, there's no guaranteed way of preventing it. In most cases it may be that something blocks the entrance of the appendix.įor example, it could become blocked by a small piece of poo or an upper respiratory tract infection could cause the lymph node within the wall of the bowel to become swollen. Read more information about treating appendicitis.
LAPAROTOMY SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS QUIZ FULL
It usually takes a couple of weeks to make a full recovery after your appendix has been removed.īut strenuous activities may need to be avoided for up to six weeks after having open surgery. Open surgery, where a larger, single cut is made in the abdomen, is usually used if the appendix has burst or access is more difficult. Several small cuts are made in the abdomen, allowing special surgical instruments to be inserted. It's most commonly carried out as keyhole surgery ( laparoscopy). Removal of the appendix, known as an appendectomy or appendicectomy, is one of the most common operations in the UK and its success rate is excellent. If you have appendicitis, it's likely your appendix will need to be removed as soon as possible.
If your pain eases for a while but then gets worse, your appendix may have burst, which can lead to life-threatening complications. If you have abdominal pain that's gradually getting worse, contact your GP or 111 immediately.Ĭall 999 to ask for an ambulance if you have pain that suddenly gets worse and spreads across your abdomen, or if your pain temporarily improves before getting worse again. Read more information about the symptoms of appendicitis. You may lose your appetite, feel sick and have constipation or diarrhoea. Pressing on this area, coughing or walking may make the pain worse. Within hours, the pain travels to the lower right-hand side, where the appendix usually lies, and becomes constant and severe. Nobody knows exactly what the appendix does, but removing it isn't harmful.Īppendicitis typically starts with a pain in the middle of your tummy (abdomen) that may come and go. It's connected to the large intestine, where poo forms. The appendix is a small, thin pouch about 5-10cm (2-4 inches) long. Appendicitis is a painful swelling of the appendix.
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