Appendicitis

Appendicitis refers to a suppurative disease of the appendix and is a common abdominal surgical condition, with acute and chronic forms. The presence of fixed tenderness in the lower right abdomen is of significant diagnostic value for acute appendicitis; chronic appendicitis, on the other hand, is often preceded by a history of acute appendicitis, presenting only with discomfort or dull pain in the right lower quadrant, which may be triggered by physical activity or dietary indiscretion. The prognosis of appendicitis depends on timely diagnosis and treatment. With early diagnosis and management, patients usually recover within a short period, and the mortality rate is extremely low (0.1%–0.2%); however, delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe complications and even death. Appendicitis is a common disease. Clinically, it often presents with pain in the right lower abdomen, elevated body temperature, vomiting, and neutrophilia. Appendicitis was previously misnamed typhlitis; in 1886, the American Fitz correctly designated it as appendicitis. However, typhlitis does exist as a nonspecific inflammation of the cecum, representing a rare type of intestinal inflammatory disease.