Skip to main content

Appendicitis

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is suspected in patients with acute abdominal pain which typically migrates from the periumbilical region to the right lower quadrant, associated with fever, nausea, and anorexia. Leukocytosis and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant are indicative of acute appendicitis. CT scan is indicated in female patients with high suspicion of the disease and in patients in which the diagnosis is suspicious but the history, exam, and WBC are not all supportive of acute appendicitis. If acute appendicitis is suspected, laparoscopic appendectomy is the standard of care. Perforated appendicitis is treated either nonoperatively if an abscess is present with IV antibiotics, drainage of abscess, and potentially an interval appendectomy or by laparoscopic appendectomy if free perforation occurs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Atema JJ, van Rossem CC, Leeuwenburgh MM, Stoker J, Boermeester MA. Scoring system to distinguish uncomplicated from complicated acute appendicitis. Br J Surg. 2015;102(8):979–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Scott AJ, Mason SE, Arunakirinathan M, Reissis Y, Kinross JM, Smith JJ. Risk stratification by the appendicitis inflammatory response score to guide decision-making in patients with suspected appendicitis. Br J Surg. 2015;102(5):563–72.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Rao PM, Rhea JT, Novelline RA, Mostafavi AA, McCabe CJ. Effect of computed tomography of the appendix on treatment of patients and use of hospital resources. N Engl J Med. 1998;338(3):141–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Long KH, Bannon MP, Zietlow SP, Helgeson ER, Harmsen WS, Smith CD, et al. A prospective randomized comparison of laparoscopic appendectomy with open appendectomy: clinical and economic analyses. Surgery. 2001;129(4):390–400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Andersson RE, Petzold MG. Nonsurgical treatment of appendiceal abscess or phlegmon: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Surg. 2007;246(5):741–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mentula P, Sammalkorpi H, Leppaniemi A. Laparoscopic surgery or conservative treatment for appendiceal abscess in adults? A randomized controlled trial. Ann Surg. 2015;262(2):237–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evangelos Messaris .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Crowell, K.T., Messaris, E. (2019). Appendicitis. In: Docimo Jr., S., Pauli, E. (eds) Clinical Algorithms in General Surgery . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98497-1_59

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98497-1_59

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-98496-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-98497-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics