Appendicitis Symptoms, Signs & Removal

Appendicitis symptoms, signs & removal.
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Dr. Buck Parker, M.D. Board Certified General Surgeon describes the signs and symptoms of Acute Appendicitis. Dr. Parker also describes the removal of the appendix with a video animation.

Hi, this is Dr. Buck Parker, General Surgeon, and in this article I want to talk to you about the diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis. Acute Appendicitis is when the appendix (a small finger like projection with a blind pouch that lives in the right side of the abdomen) becomes infected. The reason the appendix becomes infected is because it usually gets obstructed or blocked off at the base. After the appendix is obstructed, the bacteria that naturally live in the appendix do what they do best, and reproduce at a very rapid rate. Since the appendix is blocked off, and it's a blind ending pouch, there is no where for the bacteria to go, so the appendix gets bigger and bigger until eventually...without surgery, it will burst and stool will spill into the abdomen. The appendix gets blocked off for many different reasons, but I now want to focus on how doctors diagnose appendicitis, and then how we treat it.

First the diagnosis is usually a constellation of symptoms such as abdominal pain, fevers, chills, maybe nausea and vomiting. These symptoms although common, may or may not be present. Most people have belly pain that starts around the navel, and moves slowly over several hours to the right lower abdomen. When you have appendicitis, it will not get better on its own, so if the pain goes away, then most likely the diagnosis is not appendicitis.

Some tests are very helpful in diagnosing appendicitis. First, is a blood test to check for the white blood cell count. If the white blood cells (or the infection fighting cells) are elevated, that is a good indication that there is inflammation or an infection going on somewhere. Secondly is an ultrasound. The ultrasound is particularly helpful in women, since a problem with the ovary on the right side can cause similar symptoms to an appendicitis. Sometimes the ultrasound will show a normal appendix, and an abnormal ovary (such as a benign cyst for example) that will confirm the problem is not an appendicitis. Sometimes the ultrasound can confirm that the appendix looks abnormal and together with the other signs and symptoms, the diagnosis can be made. And finally, a CAT scan or a CT scan of the abdomen may be used to look at the appendix. The CAT scanner is like an X-ray machine that can look at bones, muscles, blood vessels and solid organs like the liver and even the appendix. Depending on your symptoms, all or some of these tests will be used.

Please see my website or other videos for most information on appendicitis symptoms, signs and removal.

Dr. Buck Parker, MD is a Board Certified General Surgeon and can be found here online here:

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