Why is ruptured appendix life threatening

A burst appendix releases bacteria and pus, which can cause severe complications. The appendix is a small finger-shaped pouch on the right side of the abdomen. The exact role of the appendix is not clear. Appendicitis is a condition where the appendix becomes swollen, inflamed, and filled with pus. When a doctor suspects appendicitis, a surgeon may need to remove the appendix to prevent a burst appendix. Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms and causes of a burst appendix.

We also discuss the possible treatments for a burst appendix. Appendicitis occurs when the appendix becomes inflamed. Inflammation usually happens when there is an obstruction in the appendix, and bacteria cannot escape. The accumulation of bacteria in the appendix causes the immune system to activate, and the process of inflammation begins. Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdominal pain that needs surgery in the United States. However, appendicitis can happen at any age.

The first symptom of appendicitis is usually severe and sudden pain in the abdomen. It often begins near the belly button and then moves lower and to the right. The pain may become more intense within the next few hours and become worse by moving, coughing, sneezing, or taking deep breaths. Children may complain of pain around the middle of the belly near the belly button. Younger children are at a higher risk of a burst appendix, as they may not be able to talk clearly about their symptoms.

Appendicitis can have more than one cause, and in many cases, doctors may not know the exact reason for appendicitis. The condition typically occurs when part of the appendix becomes obstructed, or blocked. If there is an obstruction in the appendix, bacteria will get trapped and begin to multiply, causing an infection.

This can lead to the formation of pus and swelling, which can cause painful pressure in the abdomen. If not treated promptly and appropriately, the pressure will continue to build, causing the appendix to swell. The swelling may lead to part of the appendix dying due to a lack of blood supply. With significant inflammation, pressure, and cell death, the appendix may burst.

When the appendix bursts, the bacteria and pus leak into the abdomen. When this spillage occurs, it can cause peritonitis , which can be fatal without rapid treatment.

Click here to learn more about other potential causes of pain in the lower right abdomen. Diagnosing appendicitis accurately and efficiently can reduce complications. However, with more than half of all people with appendicitis not presenting with typical symptoms, doctors can find it difficult to make a diagnosis. To diagnose appendicitis, doctors will review the symptoms the individual is experiencing and their medical history to potentially rule out other health issues.

During the physical exam, the doctor may look for :. Here's the good news for patients like Martha: The appendix is surrounded by other structures, mostly the intestine, and so, as she was told, the seepage can get "walled off. Smink said, is that a somewhat mobile layer of visceral fat called the omentum — nicknamed "the policeman of the abdomen" — could be drawn toward areas of inflammation to contain infection.

So a patient can end up with a pus-filled abscess outside the appendix, covered partially by the omentum. Still, why not just operate and get rid of the problem? It's not so simple. An area rife with inflammation is hard for surgeons to work with, Dr. Smink said, and an appendectomy could end up turning into removal of part of the intestine and colon as well.

So the idea is to give the patient antibiotics to fight the infection, wait as the inflammation subsides and then do an "interval appendectomy," after the waiting interval. And by the way, even emergency appendectomies are done promptly but not with quite the urgency of old; waiting several hours appears to do no harm. Twenty years ago, Dr. Smink said, surgeons would go in and operate on virtually all cases of appendicitis, whatever the level of inflammation.

But research found that for a certain group of patients, it was better to wait. Now, even the "interval appendectomy" is becoming controversial; a newer school of thought holds that some patients may do best with antibiotics alone, no operation at all. The problem right now, he said, is that there's some data on the antibiotics-only strategy, but not enough to make clear which patients really need an appendectomy and which can get along without one.

Patients who have a stone in the appendix, called an appendicolith, definitely need the organ removed, for example, but many other cases are not so clear cut. More research is needed, he said, to explore the effects of age, severity of illness and other factors on whether antibiotics-only treatment will work for a given patient. Meanwhile, some studies also suggest that for many patients with uncomplicated appendicitis — the appendix still intact — antibiotic treatment alone may be enough as well.

I'm imagining myself as a patient with high-deductible insurance. That might pose quite a dilemma: Try just antibiotics, or take the safe but expensive route straight to the OR?

Why are treatments for appendicitis evolving so notably away from the operating room? The first several doses will be given through your veins at the hospital. You typically take antibiotics for up to two to four weeks, depending on how bad the peritonitis or abscess was. Open surgery instead of laparoscopic is almost always used for a ruptured appendix. This is so your doctor can be sure that all of the infection has been cleaned out of the abdominal cavity. It can take four to six weeks to fully recover from surgery.

For a few days after surgery or after a drain is placed, you may be given strong prescription pain medication. After that, you can usually manage the pain with over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen Advil or acetaminophen Tylenol.

It takes a couple days for your intestines to start working again after surgery, so you may have a very limited diet until that happens. Keep your incision clean and dry. Avoid lifting anything heavy or participating in sports or other strenuous activities for four to six weeks after open surgery.

You should be able to return to work or school a week or so after surgery, depending on how you feel. Without prompt or appropriate treatment, a ruptured appendix is a life-threatening condition.

The outcome is often poor. When you know the symptoms, seek medical attention right away, and receive the correct diagnosis, you should fully recover from your ruptured appendix. However, you can avoid a rupture if appendicitis is treated right away. The key is to be aware of the symptoms of appendicitis. If you develop them, seek medical attention immediately. Appendicitis is an inflammation of your appendix, in the lower right side of your abdomen, that requires immediate treatment.

Some symptoms can be…. More often than not, pain in the lower right abdomen is nothing to worry about and will go away on its own in a day or two. An appendectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix.

Learn about the appendectomy procedure, risks, and recovery. Researchers say in some less serious cases of appendicitis antibiotics can help avoid surgery to remove the appendix.

Appendix cancer occurs when healthy cells become abnormal and grow rapidly. Appendix cancer is rare, but there are successful treatment options…. Television journalist Norah O'Donnell says she waited too long to have the pain in her abdomen examined. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What causes a rupture?