Acute Appendicitis Made Easy

July 7, 2012 | 6:23 pm | Surgery | No Comment

ANATOMY OF APPENDIX Because of the variation in position, the appendix is said to be the only organ in the body without anatomy. However, the anatomy of vermiform appendix has been discussed in detail here. ETIOLOGY 1. White race > Dark race; Young males; Middle class and rich 2. Diet rich in meat and lacking cellulose 3. Long retrocecal appendix (due to diminished blood supply) 4. Luminal obstruction: fecolith, ball of worms (oxyuriasis vermicularis), lymphoid hyperplasia, foreign objects, stricture (tumor) 5. Non-obstructive: Bacterial (E.coli, Enterococci, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, anaerobes) and Viral infection TYPES 1. Mucosal: Mildest 2. Phlegmonous: Slow onset and relatively slow progression 3. Necrotic: Acute bacterial infection with ischemic necrosis Perforation PATHOGENESIS

CLINICAL FEATURES

A. Symptoms: 1. Murphys triad (Pain Vomiting Fever):

a. Shifting pain: Severe colicky periumbilical visceral pain (common T10 innervation for both appendix and umbilicus referred pain) which later migrates to right iliac fossa (somatic pain due to inflammation of parietal peritoneum) Somatic phase of pain is based on anatomy of appendix:

Long tip: Left lower quadrant (LLQ) pain Retrocecal/Retrocolic: Right Flank or back Pelvic: Suprapubic pain Retroileal: Testicular pain (from irritation of spermatic artery and ureter) Pregnancy: Right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain (if appendix is shifted)

b. Vomiting (1-3 times/day): Vomiting occurs after pain in contrast to gastroenteritis which is opposite to appendicitis. c. Fever 2. Others:

Diarrhea (May be mistaken for gastroenteritis) Pyuria / Hematuria (May be mistaken for UTI) Facial flushing

B. Signs: Mnemonic: BC OPqRS

A (Blumberg sign), B (Rovsing's sign), C (Psoas sign), D (Obturator sign) 1. Blumberg sign: Rebound tenderness at McBurneys point 2. Cough tenderness: Differentiates from right sided ureteric colic 3. Obturator (Copes obturator) sign: Flexion and medial rotation at hip produces pain due to irritation of obturator muscle in pelvic appendicits. 4. Psoas (Copes psoas) sign: Pain in attempt to extend the hip flexed due to irritation of psoas major in retrocecal appendicitis) 5. Rigidity and Guarding in Right Iliac Fossa (RIF) 6. Rovsing sign: Palpation of left iliac region Displacement of colonic gas and small bowel towards inflamed appendix Pain on right iliac region 7. Rectal examination: Tenderness in right rectal wall 8. Sherren triangle hyperaesthesia: Area of skin hyperaesthesia bounded by bounded by lines joining anterior superior iliac spine, the pubic symphysis and umbilicus. ALAVARADO SCORING SYSTEM

Mnemonic: MANTRELS The score for the features are indicated in the bracket which on total makes 10. Symptoms (MAN):

Migrating RIF pain (1) Anorexia (1) Nausea and vomiting (1)

Signs (TRE):

Tenderness RIF (2) Rebound tenderness (1) Elevated temperature (1)

Laboratory (LS):

Leukocytosis (2) Shift to left i.e Neutrophilia (1)

Anaylsis of score:

< 5 : not sure 5-6: compatible 6-9: probable >9: confirmed

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS (RLQ PAIN) Mnemonic: APPENDICITIS

A : Appendicits P : PID , Period/Menstruation (Female) P : Parasites (Oxyuriasis children, Amoeba young adults), Pancreatitis (Middle age), Pelvic kidney E : Endometriosis and Ectopic pregnancy (Female), Enterocolitis (children) N : Neoplasia (Ca. cecum) D : Diverticulitis (Children and Young adults), Duodenal ulcer (Middle age) I : Iliac lymphadenitis and Intusussception (Children) C : Cystic ovary (Female), Cholecystitis (Middle age) I : IBD (Chrons disease) T : Torsion of undescended testis (Young adults) I : Irritable Bowel Syndrome S : Stones

Systemic Diseases (6 P)

Pleurisy Pneumonia Porphyria Potts spine Preherpetic pain Purpura

INVESTIGATIONS To support our clinical diagnosis, following investigations will help: A. Laboratory: 1. Total WBC count: Leukocytosis 10,000 to 18,000/cu.mm (If >18,000/cu.mm, consider perforation with or without abscess) 2. Urinananalysis: Several WBCs and RBCs may be found in appendicitis secondary to bladder irritation from inflamed appendix. 3. Elevated CRP (C-reactive protein) B. Diagnostic Imaging: 1. Abdominal X-ray (may reveal fecolith): to rule out perforation 2. Abdominal USG (+ve if >6mm noncompressible appendix): to rule out gynecological pathology 3. Laproscopy: to rule out ovarian pathology in females 4. Abdominal CT scan CT scan is costly and one need to keep the economic status of patient in mind before sending this investigation.

Abdominal X-ray (AXR) showing Appendicolith COMPLICATIONS 1. Rupture (Perforation) Generalized peritonitis

Increased risk in infants (thin omentum without much fat) and elderly (atherosclerosis of appendicular artery which is an end-artery)

2. Appendicular mass: cecum, terminal ileum and appendix sealed by greater omentum 3. Appendicular abscess 4. Others: Adhesions, Portal pyaemia, Abdominal actinomycosis TREATMENT 1. Definitive treatment: Appendicectomy or Appendectomy (Open or Laproscopic)

Video for Indications and Operative procedure for Open Appendectomy

2. Appendicular mass: Appendicectomy is contraindicated as it may lead to fecal fistula. Hence, we opt a conservative treatment (Oscher and Sherrens regime ABCDEF).

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Aspiration (with Ryles tube) Bowel care (purgatives shouldnt be use due to risk of perforation) Charts (Temperature, Pulse, Respiration, Mass size) Drugs (Antibiotics to cover all gram positive, gram negative and anaerobe organisms) Exploratory laparotomy (Only in suspicion of abscess) Fluid I.V (To correct dehydration)

The patient is kept in close observation and within 3-4 days if:

Symptoms resolve: Interval appendicectomy after 6-8 weeks Symptoms progress: Urgent appendicectomy with or without drainage

3. Appendicular abscess: Drainage is performed depending on the site

Retrocecal: RIF incision Extraperitoneal approach Pre- and Post-ileal: Laparotomy Lumbar: Loin incision Pelvic: Transrectal approach

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