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Appendicitis

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Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery

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Abstract

Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical condition of the abdomen. Although it may occur at any age, it most commonly presents in those between the ages of ten and nineteen. The classic presentation of acute appendicitis begins with diffuse, periumbilical pain due to appendiceal distention then localizes in the right lower quadrant as the parietal peritoneum becomes irritated. Computerized tomography is considered the gold standard for visualizing appendicitis in the adult patient with ultrasound advocated for pediatric patients. Management of acute appendicitis with laparoscopic or open appendectomy is most common; however, medical management of acute appendicitis has been shown to be safe and successful in a majority of patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, UC Davis Medical Center, 2315 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Adam J. Meyers

  2. School of Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, 4610 X St., Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA

    Claire de Crescenzo

  3. The University of California - Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Christine S. Cocanour (Professor of Surgery, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program Director)

Authors
  1. Adam J. Meyers
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  2. Claire de Crescenzo
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  3. Christine S. Cocanour
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Adam J. Meyers or Christine S. Cocanour .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School - Houston, Houston, Texas, USA

    Laura J. Moore

  2. General Surgery and Trauma Ben Taub Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA

    S. Rob Todd

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Meyers, A.J., de Crescenzo, C., Cocanour, C.S. (2017). Appendicitis. In: Moore, L., Todd, S. (eds) Common Problems in Acute Care Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42792-8_28

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42792-8_28

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-42792-8

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