Causes, Symptoms & Treatments of Appendix- Quah Hak Mein Colorectal Centre

Appendicitis, medically termed as epityphlitis is an inflammatory disease that affects the appendix. It needs a surgical emergency. In most of the cases the surgery involves removal of the inflamed appendix by laparotomy or laparoscopy. A surgery is essential because the rupture of the appendix may result into severe complications such as sepsis and peritonitis. This ailment was first discovered by Reginald Fitz in Today it is considered as the most common and significant cause of chronic abdominal pain.

Signs & Symptoms: 1. It typically causes severe abdominal pain that starts around the naval and then shifts to the lower right area of the abdomen. The pain usually tends to increase and becomes unbearable sometimes. 2. There also may be soreness if the lower right area of the abdomen is pressed. 3. Nausea

4. Mild fever 5. Vomiting 6. Constipation 7. Loss of appetite 8. Diarrhoea

Causes According to specialists, this disease is caused due to the following reasons: 1. Stomach infection- Appendix might be infected 2. Obstruction- A hard piece of stool might have got trapped somewhere in the appendix. The appendix might have been infected by the bacteria present in the stool.

Treatments 1. Medications: Acute appendicitis is typically managed by surgery. However, in minor cases, antibiotics are safe and effective. Pain can be relieved through medications such as morphine.

2. Surgery: Surgery is administered in case of severe cases which involves removal of the appendix. In medical terms, this surgery is known as appendicectomy. Laparotomy- This is a traditional surgical procedure for treating this ailment. It involves removal of the infected appendix through a single incision of 2 to 3 inches over the lower right area of the abdomen. This appendix surgery in Singapore is performed under general anesthesia.

Laparoscopic surgery- This is the latest method of treating appendicitis. Three to four incisions are made in the abdomen, each 0.25 to 0.5 inches long. The procedure is performed by inserting a particular surgical device known as laparoscope through any one incision. This device is connected to a monitor outside the patient's body. This allows the surgeon to inspect the infected area in the abdomen. The removal of the appendix is done through the other two incisions. During the surgery, general anesthesia is administered. To know more about appendix do follow

About Doctor Dr Quah Hak Mien MBChB, M.Med(Surgery), FRCSEd, FAMS(General Surgery) Colorectal and General Surgery

Contact Info Address: Quah Hak Mien Colorectal Centre, 6 Napier Road, #05-01 Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore Tel: Fax: Emergency (24 hours): Website:

Operating Hours Our centre timings are: Mon-Fri: 8.30 am – 5 pm Sat: 8.30 am – 1 pm. Closed on Sundays & on Singapore public holidays.