Appendicitis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Appendicitis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Definition of Appendicitis

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in the United States. Appendicitis generally affects people aged between 10 and 30, but it can strike at any age. Approximately 250,000 appendectomies are performed in the United States each year to treat appendicitis.

Appendicitis is swelling (inflammation) of the appendix. The appendix is a small, tube-like organ attached to the first part of the large intestine. It is located in the lower right part of the abdomen. It has no known function.

Causes of Appendicitis

Experts believe there are two likely causes:

• Infection - a stomach infection may have found its way to the appendix.
• Obstruction - a hard piece of stool may have got trapped in the appendix. The bacteria in the trapped stool may then have infected the appendix.

Symptoms of Appendicitis

The main symptom is pain in the abdomen, often on the right side. It is usually sudden gets worse over time. Other symptoms may include :

• Swelling in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Inability to pass gas
• Low fever

Not everyone with appendicitis has all these symptoms.

Diagnosis of Appendicitis

A diagnosis can be tricky, however, says Michael Payne, MD, a gastroenterologist with Cambridge Health Alliance, a Harvard-affiliated public healthcare system, in Cambridge, Mass. "It is a very common illness and many people don't have classic symptoms," he says. "We actually have to put our hands on a belly to see for sure."

Treatment of Appendicitis

If you do not have complications, a surgeon will usually remove your appendix soon after your doctor thinks you might have the condition. For information on this type of surgery, see: Appendectomy.

Because the tests used to diagnose appendicitis are not perfect, sometimes the operation will show that your appendix is normal. In that case, the surgeon will remove your appendix and explore the rest of your abdomen for other causes of your pain.

If a CT scan shows that you have an abscess from a ruptured appendix, you may be treated for infection. You will have your appendix removed after the infection and swelling have gone away.

NCP Appendicitis - 6 Nursing Interventions

NCP Appendicitis - 6 Nursing Interventions

Appendicitis is swelling (inflammation) of the appendix. The appendix is a small pouch attached to the beginning of your large intestine.

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in the United States. It usually occurs when the appendix becomes blocked by feces, a foreign object, or rarely, a tumor.

The classic symptoms of appendicitis include:

• Dull pain near the navel or the upper abdomen that becomes sharp as it moves to the lower right abdomen. This is usually the first sign.
• Nausea and/or vomiting soon after abdominal pain begins
• Loss of appetite
• Fever of 99-102 degrees Fahrenheit
• Abdominal swelling
• Inability to pass gas

Almost half the time, other symptoms of appendicitis appear, including:

• Dull or sharp pain anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, back, or rectum
• Painful urination
• Vomiting that precedes the abdominal pain
• Severe cramps
• Constipation or diarrhea with gas

Nursing Care Plan for Appendicitis - 6 Nursing Interventions

1. Reduce pain

• Perform pain assessment, a comprehensive covering the location, severity.
• Observation of non-verbal discomfort.
• Use a positive approach to the patient, the patient comes close to meeting the needs of a sense of comfort by way of: massage, position changes, provide care that is not in a hurry.
• Control of environmental factors that can affect a patient's response to discomfort.
• Instruct the patient to rest and relaxation when using tenkik pain.
• Medical collaboration in the delivery of analgesics.

2. Maintaining fluid balance

• Maintain a record of intake and output accurately.
• Monitor vital sign and hydration status.
• Monitor nutritional status.
• Supervise laboratory values​​, such as hemoglobin / hematocrit, sodium, albumin and clotting time.
• Collaborate intravenous fluids appropriate therapy.
• Adjust the possibility of blood transfusion.

3. Nutritional needs

• Determine the patient's ability to meet nutritional needs.
• Monitor nutrition and caloric intake on record.
• Provide accurate information about the nutritional needs and how to fulfill them.
• Minimize factors that can cause nausea and vomiting.
• Maintain oral hygiene before and after meals.

4. Reduce anxiety

• Providing information to clients on the procedures and goals following surgery.
• Talking with clients about what to do.
• Using a calm approach to convince the client.
• Motivating families to always accompany clients.

5. Avoiding infection

• Doing good hand washing and aseptic wound care.
• Observing vital signs and signs of infection.
• Giving antibiotics as indicated.

6. Provide health education

• Provide an explanation to the client about the disease.
• Providing information to clients and families about the action and the development of the client's condition.