1. By: Chelsea Jun, Mimi Tse, Serena Wu and Sushmita Saha
Appendicitis
By: Chelsea Jun, Mimi Tse, Serena Wu and Sushmita Saha

2. Where is the appendix located in the body?
The appendix is a fingerlike pouch attached to the large intestine and located in the lower right area of the abdomen.
It is found at the point where your small intestine and large intestine join.

3. What is the function of the appendix?
There is no clear purpose of the appendix.
The researchers say it acts as a safe house for good bacteria that aids in the digestion of food.

4. Symptoms of appendicitis
The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain.
The abdominal pain usually
occurs suddenly, often causing a person to wake up at night
Occurs before other symptoms
begins near the belly button and then moves lower and to the right
is new and unlike any pain felt before
gets worse in a matter of hours
gets worse when moving around, taking deep breaths, coughing, or sneezing

5. Symptoms cont.
Symptoms vary and can mimic other sources of abdominal pain, including:
intestinal obstruction
inflammatory bowel disease
pelvic inflammatory disease and other gynecological disorders
intestinal adhesions
constipation

6. How is the appendix removed?
Surgical removal of the appendix

7. How is appendicitis diagnosed?
Physical and rectal examination
Blood tests
Signs of infection
High white blood count: may point to appendicitis
Urine test
Check for urinary tract infection
Urinalysis may help to rule out the infection that can mimic appendicitis
Chest x-rays
Pneumonia in the lower right lung can cause pain similar to appendicitis
Ultrasound
Inflamed appendix

8. Diagnosis cont.
Diagnosis of appendicitis are usually taken immediately to surgery
Laparotomy: surgical exploration of the abdomen
To confirm the diagnosis
Diagnosis is not certain until an operation is done
To avoid a ruptured appendix, surgery may be recommended without delay if the symptoms point clearly to appendicitis
If the symptoms are not clear, surgery may be postponed until they progress enough to confirm a diagnosis.

9. Diagnosis cont.
A normal appendix is discovered in about 10-20% of patients who undergo laparotomy, because of suspected appendicitis
Sometimes the surgeon will remove a normal appendix as a safeguard against appendicitis in the future.
. During the surgery, another specific cause for the pain and symptoms of appendicitis is found for about 30% of these patients.

10. Symptoms of Appendectomy
Risks for any anesthesia include the following:
Reactions to medications
Problems breathing
Risks for any surgery include the following:
Bleeding
Infection
Additional risks with an appendectomy with ruptured appendix include the following:
Longer hospital stays
Side effects from medications

11. How can appendicitis be prevented?
No way to prevent appendicitis
However, appendicitis is less common in people who eat foods high in fiber

12. CITATIONS http://wiki.medpedia.com/Appendectomy