Acute appendicitis is not for the faint of heart. The best treatment involves no more than a few sips of water and a few light meals throughout the day. An appendectomy is the last resort and should only be undertaken in cases where the patient has no other option. Surgical complications are rare and most patients are able to recover from their affliction.
Acute appendicitis is often accompanied by a plethora of atypical symptoms. These include but are not limited to: vomiting, dizziness, fever, and nausea. Some of these symptoms can be attributed to anemia, which can result from the loss of blood volume, especially in the lower abdomen. In addition, a patient may display symptoms of an underlying comorbidity, which requires a more comprehensive medical evaluation.
To date, there is no evidence that appendiceal endometriosis causes acute appendicitis in the long run. However, it can be a predisposing factor in the development of chronic appendicitis. In addition to the obvious abdominal pain, a patient may experience menstrual changes that are symptomatic of appendiceal dysfunction. Similarly, patients with a history of a uterine leiomyoma are at an increased risk of developing acute appendicitis.
Appendicitis is an infrequent condition, so a thorough gynecological evaluation is a must. It is important to consider an appendectomy as a last resort, particularly in the presence of a comorbidity, as the condition can regress a patient to the brink of life-threatening complications. Additionally, the prognosis is poor and a thorough follow-up is a must. Likewise, a thorough urinalysis should be performed. Lastly, patients with lower abdominal complaints should also be screened for possible bladder cancer. If detected early, this is a condition that can be cured.
