It is the most frequent abdominal surgical emergency.
It is caused by the obstruction of the lumen of the cecal appendix, which leads to an alteration in venous and, subsequently, arterial blood flow.
It can perforate within the first 12 to 24 hours, meaning a timely diagnosis can make a significant difference in the prognosis.
The symptoms that generally present are abdominal pain located at the pit of the stomach, which later migrates to the periumbilical region and subsequently to the lower right side of the abdomen, making it impossible to walk. It can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, fever, a general feeling of illness (malaise), and diarrhea.
Although the diagnosis is made through medical history and physical examination, it must be complemented by laboratory tests and imaging studies.
Management must be an emergency surgical intervention, either through minimally invasive or laparoscopic surgery, or via open surgery.
