Gastro: Acute Appendicitis: Free MSRA Podcast

⚕️FREE MSRA PODCAST –Acute Appendicitis Overview🎧 Everything you need to know about appendicitis for your MSRA exam –simplified, high-yield, and exam-ready. 🧠Key Learning Points📌Definition• Appendicitis = inflammation of the vermiform appendix• Often triggered byobstruction of the lumen (e.g. faecolithsor lymphoid hyperplasia)• Can lead to infection, perforation,and peritonitis if untreated📌Causes• Faecoliths (most common)• Lymphoid hyperplasia (especially in children)• Less commonly:foreign bodies, tumours📌PathophysiologyObstruction →↑ Intraluminal pressure →↓ Blood flow (ischaemia) →Bacterial overgrowth →Necrosis →Perforation →Peritonitis📌Risk Factors👦 Age 10–30 (peak incidence)👨 Slight male predominance👪 Family history🦠 Conditions: Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis📌Symptoms• Initial peri-umbilical pain, migrating to right iliac fossa (RIF)• Anorexia, nausea, low-grade fever• Tenderness at McBurney’s point, guarding,rebound tenderness• Positive Rovsing’s, psoas, and obturator signs📌DifferentialDiagnosis• GI:Diverticulitis, IBD, gastroenteritis• Urological: UTI,renal colic• Gynaecological:Ectopic pregnancy, ovarian torsion, PID• Others: Mesentericadenitis, pneumonia, DKA📌Investigations🧪Bloods: ↑ WCC, ↑ neutrophils, ↑ CRP🚽Urine dip: Rule out UTI, pregnancy test in females🖼️Imaging:• Ultrasound – first-line for children andpregnancy• CT scan – most accurate in adults• MRI – sometimes used in pregnancy if needed💡Mnemonic: “US for under 30s &pregnancy, CT for classic adult cases”📌Management🔪Laparoscopicappendicectomy = gold standard💉IV antibiotics pre-operatively (and post-op if perforated)🧪 Consider conservative antibiotic-only approach inselect uncomplicated cases – but note ~39% recurrence💧 Supportive care: IV fluids, pain relief📌Prognosis• Excellent ifcaught early• Mortality: <1/1000 for uncomplicated; up to >20% in elderly with perforation• Worse with delays,comorbidities, or atypical presentations📌Complications❗Perforation → peritonitis❗Appendix mass orabscess❗Paralytic ileus❗Adhesionalobstruction, sepsis 📎More AppendicitisMSRA Resources:📝 Revision Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/appendicitis-revision-notes-2/🧠 Flashcards: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/appendicitis-flashcards-2/💬 Accordion Q&A Notes: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/appendicitis-accordion-qa-notes-2/🚀 Rapid Quiz: https://www.passthemsra.com/topic/appendicitis-rapid-quiz-2/🎓 Full Course: https://www.passthemsra.com/courses/gastroenterology-for-the-msra/ Hashtags#MSRA #MSRARevision#MSRAPodcast #Appendicitis #MSRAGastroenterology #AcuteAbdomen #MSRAFlashcards#MSRAQandANotes #PassTheMSRA #FreeMSRA #MSRAQuestionBank #LaparoscopicSurgery#Appendicectomy