What happens if appendix ruptures?
Some may wonder if an internal organ like appendix can burst. We tend to assume that if there is acute stomach pain, the physician would do physical examination to doubt appendicitis. A diagnosis would lead to finding appendicitis in you. You would get an appendix removal surgery done and remove the appendix. This is what most of you would think. But according to Dr Maran M, a gastro surgeon who regularly performs many appendix surgery in Chennai, it is not an easy sequence of events many times. Let us look at the challenges.
The Initial Symptoms of Appendicitis and the Reasons
We should never forget that the primary reason for appendicitis is the infection that happens in the appendix. A precise reason for this infection is not known. It is widely believed that a block in the opening to the appendix into the caecum of the large intestine may cause this infection. This block is caused mostly by the constipated solid motions. When such a block happens, the internal pressure within the appendix raises and puts pressure on the wall of the appendix. This pressure is felt as pain in the stomach.
The Initial Symptoms of Appendicitis
- A tolerable pain surrounding the navel region
- Mild fever
- Vomiting
When the above symptoms appear no one would logically interpret it as appendicitis. They would only think that it is a normal stomach pain or stomach pain. Most would pop a soda, or would take some medications and would simply forget.
The Next Level Symptoms of Appendicitis
- The stomach pain aggravates and becomes unbearable. The pain is felt in the lower right abdomen below the navel area.
- High fever
- Vomiting
- The count of white blood count will be higher in a blood test. This is because the body is fighting against the infection.
What happens if you ignore the initial symptoms of appendicitis?
This is the most dangerous phase and consequently most of the time people seek help from doctor. As a result the doctor recommends for an ultrasound after physical examination. The history and physical examination always gives a hint that appendicitis may be present. However there are people who ignore beyond this point too. It is at this stage that the appendix bursts inside. The wall of the appendix gets ruptured and this is referred as burst. When the appendix ruptures, the entire faecal matters accumulated inside the small and large intestine bursts out into the abdomen thorugh the appendix opening.
What happens after the appendix ruptures?
- The stomach becomes rigid and stony hard to feel
- Very high fever
- Difficulty in breathing
- Intense vomiting
- May lead to sepsis
In this stage, there is no option but to be subject to surgery under emergency conditions. Consequently the faecal matter in the whole of abdomen is cleaned. The surgeon proceeds and finally removes the ruptured appendix.
Even before you could get to this stage, it is possible to diagnose for the presence of appendicitis using ultrasound / CT scan. Surgery is the only solution if the diagnosis confirms appendicitis. The removal of appendix is termed as appendectomy. The removal of appendix before the wall ruptures is always safe because it not treated as emergency and mortality and morbidity rate is lower.
Dr Maran who does Appendix Surgery in Chennai regularly has spoken in this video about appendix rupture. In this video he clearly outlines the details.
Conclusion of Dr Maran who does Appendix Surgery in Chennai regularly
– Advance medical diagnostic methods and the availability of antibiotics have made instances of appendix rupturing a rarity. The diagnosis of appendicitis at early stage means surgery is done at a relaxed pace. The early stage of appendicitis is not a surgical emergency. Dr. Maran, a leading gastro surgeon who does appendix surgery in Chennai regularly says that it is prudent not to ignore any signs of pain in the stomach. Should you have pain in the stomach, consult a good gastro surgeon and rule out the presence of appendicitis.
