Appendicitis review of the causes, symptoms, complications (perforation, abscess, peritonitis), pathophysiology, and nursing care for the NCLEX exam. Appendicitis is the inflammation of the appendix. Where is the appendix? It is found on the right lower side of the abdomen and connects to the cecum of the large intestine (it looks like a protruding worm or fingerlike structure coming out of the large intestine (specifically the ascending colon). The role of the appendix is to store the "good" bacteria in your GI tract while the tract is recovering from a diarrhea illness (so it helps maintain healthy GI flora). Appendicitis can be caused from an obstruction (fecalith...hard piece of feces, parasites...worms, enlarged lymph nodes) or trauma/injury. When appendicitis occurs, the lumen of the appendix becomes blocked and this increases pressure in the appendix. As the pressure increases, venous obstruction occurs which can cause the formation of a blood clot. Clot formation leads to ischemia to the appendix which leads to perforation (rupture of the appendix) and eventually peritonitis. Signs and symptoms of appendicitis include: abdominal pain that starts in or around umbilicus and radiates to the right lower quadrant, pain will be most intense at McBurney's Point, abdominal rebound tenderness/rigidity, nausea, vomiting, fever, and relief of pain when placed in the fetal position. Treatment for appendicitis is an appendectomy.

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