Appendicitis is a disease in which the atrophied part of the large intestine becomes inflamed. The reasons for this can be varied, and today all of them are not known, since in medicine very little time and finances are devoted to the study of the appendix. However, there are no preventive measures or general recommendations that would prevent this ailment. It is only known that among the younger generation, namely in children and adolescents, this ailment is diagnosed much more often than in middle-aged and elderly people. Also, very often in patients, peritonitis appears after appendicitis. The consequences of this complication can be very serious, therefore, each person should have an idea of what symptoms he appears in order to go to the hospital in time and begin treatment. This and much more will be discussed later in this article.
general information
Appendicitis with peritonitis is not very common in medical practice, however, in the absence of proper treatment, the consequences can pose a great danger to human health and life. As practice shows, if a patient seeks qualified help too late, then he cannot be saved. The thing is that peritonitis is not just an exacerbation after removal of the appendix, but inflammation of all parts of the peritoneum.
The first clinical manifestations of the disease make themselves felt a day after the onset of the inflammatory process, and acute appendicitis peritonitis, which is accompanied by soft tissue damage and internal bleeding, manifests itself only after 7 hours. It is important to understand that during the first days after exacerbation, the chances of saving the patient are quite high, but on the second day the score is literally on the clock.
The main causes of inflammation
Let's dwell on this in more detail. Appendicitis with peritonitis can occur for a number of reasons.
As mentioned earlier, all of them are not fully known, but the most common are the following:
- rupture of the appendix ;
- parasites;
- perforated stomach or intestinal ulcer;
- inflammation of the internal organs located in the pelvic region;
- the consequences of operations;
- injuries and injuries;
- gynecological diseases occurring in acute form;
- pancreas inflammation;
- violation of the passage of contents through the intestines;
- problematic birth or termination of pregnancy.
It is worth noting that, once having had peritonitis once, the likelihood of relapse and re-manifestation of the disease increases significantly. Therefore, the recovered patient must monitor his health, adhere to a special diet, and regularly undergo a medical examination.
Clinical manifestations
This issue should be given special importance. Appendicitis with peritonitis in all people, regardless of gender and age category, is always manifested by the same symptoms. Moreover, their severity is striking, so it is simply impossible not to notice them.
In most cases, a person experiences:
- intolerable pain in the abdominal region;
- dyspnea;
- excessive accumulation of gases in the intestines;
- rapid pulse;
- gagging;
- problematic elimination of waste products from the body;
- bloating;
- lack of appetite;
- chills or fever;
- heat;
- fatigue;
- feeling of weakness.
In addition, in the peritoneum, an accumulation of a large amount of fluid can occur, which occurs due to poor urination. Many patients also experience vomiting. At first, it is not too pronounced, and the discharge is insignificant, however, as the inflammatory process and complications develop, the urge intensifies, and blood impurities appear in the discharge. Vomiting is very profuse and does not make you feel better with appendicitis. Complications of peritonitis are diagnosed in approximately 10 percent of patients, so the disease can be considered very common.
Diagnosis of the disease
How does it happen and what is its feature? It is impossible to independently determine the presence of an inflammatory process in the peritoneum. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a specialist after examining the patient based on the results of laboratory tests. This significantly complicates the treatment, since peritonitis progresses very quickly and affects the soft tissues and intestinal mucosa.
In the absence of therapy, a person may develop sepsis and a decrease in tissue perfusion, as a result of which the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues is disrupted, and hypotension also develops. In this case, appendicitis with peritonitis very often can not be cured, and the patient dies.
To accurately determine the ailment, doctors need the results of the following studies:
- analysis of urine and blood;
- Ultrasound of the peritoneum;
- CT
- puncture;
- x-ray of the peritoneum.
Puncture is a sampling of fluid in order to detect the presence of infections in it using a special needle that pierces the abdominal cavity. Before prescribing certain tests, the doctor performs a palpation. If the patient at the same time experiences unbearable pain, then this gives all reasons to believe that there is inflammation of the peritoneum.
The main methods of therapy
Complicated by local peritonitis, acute appendicitis is a very serious disease, therefore its treatment is carried out exclusively in stationary conditions under the strict supervision of a doctor. The sooner it is started, the more likely it is to completely overcome the ailment and minimize the risks of serious complications. Based on the patient's condition, a comprehensive treatment program is selected.
First, appendicitis is removed. Peritonitis can not be treated only with the help of drugs, especially if there has been a rupture of the appendage of the cecum, so surgical intervention is indispensable. Next, the abdominal cavity is cleaned and the damaged sections of the intestine are sutured, after which the doctors take a series of measures to improve the body.
After surgical therapy, purulent accumulations may form. In this case, the patient is given drainage, which is removed only after the cessation of pus formation. In order for the operation (peritonitis, appendicitis and some other diseases of the digestive system to require a long rehabilitation) to be better tolerated, and to speed up the healing process, medical specialists prescribe antibacterial drugs, immunomodulators and vitamin complexes. Also, the patient should adhere to a special diet, eating only authorized products. In the first few days after surgery, only chicken broths can be consumed, after which the menu gradually expands.
Complications
The consequences of peritonitis after appendicitis can be very serious. Even the profiled specialist will not be able to say exactly what they will be, since here everything depends on many factors. A key role in this is played by how quickly treatment was started, the severity of the course of the disease, and the individual characteristics of the body of each patient.
At the same time, the forecasts of doctors are not comforting. It is possible to completely overcome the disease and prevent the development of complications only in isolated cases. In some situations, when the patient later turned to a medical institution or was provided with unqualified help, even a fatal outcome is possible.
However, this happens extremely rarely, and most often a person develops the following:
- sepsis;
- purulent inflammation of the soft tissues ;
- uremic encephalopathy;
- intestinal necrosis;
- adhesion of the connective tissue of the peritoneum;
- septic shock.
It is worth noting that, despite the high level of development of modern medicine, effective methods of combating the disease that would save every patient are not yet known. According to statistics, about 20 percent of patients die.
A few words about local peritonitis
This form of the disease is also very serious, but it is much easier and faster to treat. With it, inflammation is localized in a certain area, and does not spread throughout the peritoneum. As in the case with the form of the disease described above, local peritonitis with appendicitis makes itself felt with sharp bouts of acute abdominal pain, frequent gagging, fever and a feeling of weakness.
Treatment is also carried out comprehensively and is selected individually based on the results of a number of laboratory studies. Most often, drug therapy is carried out, and surgical intervention is resorted to only in the most emergency cases, when in patients the inflammatory process is accompanied by an accumulation of pus.
Disease prevention
It is important to understand that there are no methods that give you a 100% guarantee that you can avoid peritonitis. Nevertheless, it is still possible to significantly reduce the likelihood of developing this ailment. One of the best methods is to go to the hospital in a timely manner when the first suspicion of peritoneal inflammation occurs. As for people who have already been ill, they should lead a more sparing lifestyle and adhere to a proper, healthy and balanced diet.
Nutrition recommendations
A proper diet after peritonitis (appendicitis) plays a very important role in the rehabilitation of patients, since there are a number of food products, the use of which can lead to divergence of sutures and the development of relapse of the disease.
To avoid this, the diet of patients in the recovery phase should include the following:
- vegetable soups and casseroles;
- cereals;
- pasta;
- mashed potatoes;
- steamed or boiled fish and chicken;
- skim milk and kefir;
- fresh fruits and berries;
- honey;
- herbal teas.
As for prohibited foods, pickles and smoked meats, spices, sauces, legumes, flour, sweets should be excluded from the diet, and salt consumption should be minimized.
Baby diet
The diet in children is slightly different from that in adults. It should be as follows:
- all products should be consumed only in crushed form;
- food should be steamed;
- do not eat fatty meat and broths;
- among fruits, it is better to give preference to bananas;
- drink as many dairy products as possible daily.
It will also not be superfluous to consult an experienced nutritionist who will help to perfectly balance your daily diet.
Conclusion
Peritonitis is a very dangerous disease that often ends in death. Therefore, when the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to go to the hospital as soon as possible, since the sooner treatment is started, the more chances there are to save your life. Remember, only you yourself are responsible for your health!