According to surgeon Sergei Trusov, some patients can avoid surgery today, but it is necessary to very accurately assess the course of the disease, according to a press release from the medical diagnostics and treatment center “Hila”.
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“In recent years, the approach to appendicitis diagnosis and treatment has changed significantly. Today, doctors have more precise tests and more options to choose the most appropriate treatment for each patient, so there is no longer a uniform solution for everyone,” says S. Trusov.
Symptoms are not always textbook
According to the surgeon, although the classic course of appendicitis is well known, in practice it occurs far from all patients. Sometimes the pain starts immediately on the right side of the abdomen, in other cases it is felt higher, closer to the ribs, in the pelvic area, or even in the back. Because of this, patients often suspect completely different health disorders.
It is even more difficult to recognize appendicitis in children, older people, or pregnant women – in these patient groups, symptoms are often less typical, and the disease can progress faster.
“Appendicitis cannot be diagnosed solely based on the location of the pain. The doctor always evaluates the whole picture – how the symptoms started, how they change, what the examination data are, and the results of laboratory and imaging tests. That is why it is often impossible to diagnose independently,” explains the surgeon.
The biggest mistake is to wait for it to pass on its own
According to S. Trusov, one of the most common reasons why appendicitis becomes complicated is the delay in seeking medical help. Abdominal pain is often attributed to poisoning, digestive disorders, or overeating, so people wait several days for their condition to improve.
“Many patients first try to treat themselves – taking painkillers, changing their diet, or simply hoping that everything will pass. Unfortunately, if it really is appendicitis, during that time the inflammation can progress, and the risk of complications increases. If severe or continuously worsening abdominal pain does not pass within a few hours, accompanied by fever, nausea, or vomiting, one should not delay and see a doctor the same day,” says S. Trusov.
According to him, the most dangerous complication of appendicitis is the rupture of the vermiform appendix. In such a case, infection can spread in the abdominal cavity and cause peritonitis or abscess formation. Then treatment becomes much more complicated – more extensive surgery is often required, longer antibiotic treatment and hospital stay, and recovery can take several weeks.
The internet can help, but it will not diagnose
The surgeon notes that today patients often come to consultations having already read a lot of information online or consulted with artificial intelligence chatbots. According to him, this can help better understand possible causes of symptoms and prepare for the visit, but such tools cannot establish a diagnosis.
“People often look for one specific sign that would confirm or rule out appendicitis. But there is no such sign. We evaluate not only symptoms – their course, patient examination, laboratory and imaging test results are important. Sometimes even blood tests at the beginning of the disease are not markedly changed, so the final conclusion is made by assessing the entire clinical picture,” explains the specialist.
According to him, if necessary, blood tests, abdominal organ ultrasound, and in more complex cases – computed tomography are performed. It is the combination of these data that allows an accurate diagnosis and the choice of the most appropriate treatment strategy.
Modern surgery allows faster return to normal life
Compared to the surgical treatment of acute appendicitis used many years ago, the situation today has changed significantly. Most often, the vermiform appendix is removed laparoscopically – through several small incisions in the abdominal wall.
“Laparoscopic surgery usually causes less tissue trauma, patients recover faster, feel less pain, and can return to daily activities earlier. However, even the most advanced surgery does not eliminate one important fact – the earlier appendicitis is diagnosed, the simpler the treatment and the lower the risk of complications,” emphasizes S. Trusov.
Modern surgical capabilities allow some operations to be performed on an outpatient basis. According to the surgeon, the most important thing is to see a doctor if the pain worsens, does not pass, or the general health condition deteriorates.
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