Avoid Appendicitis, Check Your Appendix Health!

One organ function that is not clearly defined, but could make you feel immense pain when sick is no other than the appendix. It is unlikely for a sick appendix to heal on its own, therefore surgery may be the solution. Now, the question of how something so small can have a big impact on the body is still out in the open when talking about appendixes. 

What is Appendicitis?

Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. This condition can cause pain on the lower right side of your abdomen. Feces coming from your bowel can block or infect your appendix, which may cause the inflammation. Then, this inflammation is the one causing a ruptured appendix.

It is important to know that a ruptured appendix is a medical emergency situation. Why? Because the bacteria that once existed in your bowel can spread to your abdominal cavity. If not treated right away, abdominal infection (peritonitis) could spread to your blood flow and trigger a life threatening complication (sepsis).¹ Being a very risky condition, the only visible solution of appendicitis is surgery.

Is Appendicitis Common?

In fact, appendicitis is a quite common case in Indonesia. Based on a 2020 record, there are 621.435 appendicitis cases in Indonesia. Therefore, it can be concluded that appendicitis ranks second as the most commonly suffered non-communicable disease in Indonesia, after coronary heart disease.²

What Causes Appendicitis?

Its location and size makes infection and blockage happen. Your bowel is the home for so many bacteria, and if too many get trapped in your appendix, they will reproduce too fast and cause an  infection. Below are the common causes of inflammation, swell, and appendix blockage:

1. Hardened feces: This type of feces brings a lot of bacteria and can block your appendix.

2. Hyperplasia lymphoid: The appendix can become inflamed not only due to hardened stool, but also as a result of an immune system reaction.

3. Colitis: Inflammation in the intestines caused by infection or intestinal inflammation can affect the appendix. The infection may spread, or the inflammation itself can also irritate the appendix.

How to Check Appendix Conditions at Home?

There are several ways you can check for appendicitis at home. Here are some conditions and symptoms you should pay attention to:

1. If you experience the following conditions, please go to the nearest hospital immediately

A clearer and more thorough examination can only be performed by medical professionals. However, if you are still unsure and want to check your appendix condition at home, you can try to identify where the pain is coming from. Pay attention to whether the pain starts in the lower right abdomen and worsens when you sneeze, cough, or move around.

2. The main symptom of appendicitis that you may experience is abdominal pain

The characteristics of abdominal pain in appendicitis include:

• Pain in the middle of the abdomen or upper abdomen (pit of the stomach) that appears suddenly and comes and goes

• Pain that moves to the lower right abdomen within a few hours

• Persistent pain in the lower right abdomen that becomes more severe

• Pain that worsens when walking, coughing, sneezing, or when the lower right abdomen is pressed

In addition to pain, appendicitis may also be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Nausea and vomiting

• A feeling of fullness in the abdomen

• Fever and chills

• Fatigue and general discomfort (malaise)

• Loss of appetite

• Abdominal swelling; you may feel bloated and your abdomen may appear distended. This can be a sign that the appendix has ruptured.

• Urinary symptoms, such as feeling the need to urinate more frequently and urgently

• Intestinal paralysis, when the body begins redirecting blood flow from the intestines to the appendix, causing the intestines to stop moving. Some patients may also experience constipation and feel unable to pass gas.

• Diarrhea; some patients may feel that their intestines are overactive, leading to more frequent bowel movements.

Further Examination by the Medical Team

1. Generally, the appendix is located at McBurney’s point. The main examination performed by the medical team is assessing what sensation you feel when this point is pressed. The medical team can locate McBurney’s point by measuring the distance from the bony prominence near your hip to your navel

2. Blumberg’s sign: Pressure is applied around the area where the pain originates, and the pain becomes worse after the pressure is suddenly released.

3. When you cough, the pain becomes more severe (Dunphy’s sign).

4. When the medical team applies pressure to the lower left side of your abdomen and pain appears in the lower right side, this is called Roving's sign.

5. If your appendix is located behind the large intestine rather than in front of it, appendicitis may irritate the psoas muscle. To relieve the pain, you may bend your right hip to shorten the muscle. In this condition, the medical team will try to extend your right hip or rotate it outward. If you feel pain, this is called the psoas sign. Conversely, if your hip is rotated inward and you feel pain, this is called the obturator sign.

What are the Treatments for Appendicitis?

Appendicitis can be treated with three types of procedures: laparotomy, laparoscopy, and appendectomy. What is the difference between these procedures? The difference lies in the technique used during the operation: laparotomy uses an open surgical technique, while laparoscopy uses a minimally invasive technique. Surgeons may use a laparoscopic procedure to remove your appendix, and a laparotomy may be performed if complications occur.¹ On the other hand, an appendectomy involves making an incision to remove the appendix, thereby eliminating the source of pain.

So, how long is the recovery period after appendix removal surgery? The duration of recovery depends on your condition. If you only require a simple laparoscopic appendectomy, you may be able to go home the same day. However, if you experience complications or undergo a laparotomy procedure, you will need to stay in the hospital longer.

Reference

1. Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Appendicitis: Symptoms, tests, treatment & prevention. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8095-appendicitis

2. Wulandari, R. (2024). BAB 1 PENDAHULUAN 1.1 Latar Belakang. http://eresources.thamrin.ac.id/id/eprint/1994/2/Ranti%20Wulandari_S1%20Keperawatan_2024%20-%20Bab%201.pdf