Acute appendicitis is a well-known abdominal emergency that requires immediate surgery. Petroianu and Barroso (2016) report that it is common in teenagers and young adults, so there are twenty-three cases per 10,000 population each year. Acute appendicitis usually emerges because of foreign bodies, parasites, lymphoid hyperplasia, and fecaliths. However, the latter element constitutes the most common cause of appendiceal obstruction, which later results in inflammation as the appendix enlarges and influences surrounding tissues. Acute inflammation is classified into two types: complicated and not complicated appendicitis.
In the first case, appendicitis is perforated or gangrenous, while the second type is not characterized by any of these complications. As a rule, acute appendicitis requires immediate surgery to avoid lethal outcome. Many researchers and practitioners believe that appendix is only a rudimentary part, but it plays a significant immune role (Petroianu and Barroso, 2016). Even though the holistic function of the appendix has not been clearly identified yet, it is necessary to recognize the first signs of its possible inflammation and actively develop preventive measures.
References
Petroianu, A., & Villar Barroso, T. V. (2016). Pathophysiology of acute appendicitis. JSM Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 4(3), 1-4.