Acute appendicitis

Acute appendicitis is one the most common causes of acute abdominal pain and the peak incidence is amongst teenagers and young adults. The diagnosis is made from salient features in the history and examination with additional guidance from appropriate imaging. Treatment is usually in the form of open or laparoscopic appendicectomy; the latter approach may be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage in pregnant patients. Antibiotic treatment alone may be successful, albeit with a risk of recurrence. Complications of appendicectomy occur frequently and the most common is wound infection.