| Theme |
Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Obstruction: Timing in Consulting a Surgeon |
| Title |
Paralytic Ileus Due to Appendicitis |
| Author |
Tetsuhisa Yamamoto |
1st Department of Surgery, Tokyo Postal Agency Hospital |
| Author |
Takayoshi Sekikawa |
1st Department of Surgery, Tokyo Postal Agency Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Paralytic ileus is a rare manifestation of acute appendicitis. However, some reports have documented a small number of appendicitis patients whose first symptom was remarkable intestinal obstructions. These patients are often elderly and show reduced response to inflammation, or the peritoneal signs are masked, due to the abnormal location of the appendix (ex. retroperitoneal). Prompt surgical treatment is required once the intestinal obstruction is diagnosed as peritonitis. Appendicitis should not be neglected, since it is the most common cause of peritonitis. |