Abstract
Background: Acute appendicitis affects 5.7-57/per 100,000 individuals each year, mostly prevalent in the pediatric population, making it a common gastrointestinal disease. Appendicitis presents colicky central abdominal pain around the umbilicus this is proceeded by nausea and vomiting; the pain location would travel to the right iliac fossa. Rebound tenderness is noticed in physical examination, but not recommended. Surgical removal of the appendix remains the gold standard in management of appendicitis.
Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, January 1985, through February 2017. The following search terms were used: appendicitis, appendectomy, clinical presentation of appendicitis, investigation of appendicitis, appendectomy, conservative management of appendicitis
Aim: In this review, we aim to study the clinical presentation of acute appendicitis, the methods of investigation and the best approach to manage it surgically, as well as non-surgically.
Conclusion: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common gastrointestinal conditions that usually present in the emergencies. The prevalence is higher in pediatric age group. It is a clinical diagnosis but confirmed with CT and US in order to rule out the other many possible differential diagnoses. The management is mostly surgical, either open appendectomy or laparoscopic appendectomy. More research is being done in devising effective methods of non-surgical management, especially in children, using antibiotics to reduce the cost and morbidity associated with surgery.