What happens if appendix rupture

Call to ask for an ambulance if you have abdominal pain that suddenly gets much worse and spreads across your abdomen.

If your appendix bursts, the lining of your abdomen peritoneum will become infected with bacteria. This is called peritonitis. If peritonitis is not treated immediately, it can cause long-term problems and may even be fatal. Treatment for peritonitis usually involves antibiotics and surgery to remove the appendix. After all, appendicitis inflammation of the appendix is the most common reason behind emergency abdominal surgery in the U.

Keep reading to learn exactly how to know if your appendix burst. Before we can talk about a ruptured appendix, we have to talk about what precedes it: appendicitis. Appendicitis occurs when the appendix—the finger-shaped pouch that sits in the lower right section of your abdomen—becomes inflamed.

This is usually due to a blockage inside your appendix that causes it to swell up and get infected, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , here are the signs and symptoms of appendicitis to look out for:. Ruptures or perforated appendixes happen in a minority of appendicitis cases, Diya Alaedeen, M.

At that point, the appendix walls get holes in them that release things like stool and mucus. Once the infection is clear, you'll have surgery to remove the appendix. In some cases, the abscess is drained, and the appendix is removed immediately. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Appendicitis Open pop-up dialog box Close. Appendicitis The appendix is a narrow, finger-shaped pouch that projects out from the colon. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. A research review published in June by the Cochrane Database compared early versus delayed appendectomy in cases of complicated appendicitis.

They concluded that more and better-quality data — concerning length of hospital stay and health-related quality of life outcomes — is needed to determine what benefits or harms there might be in early versus delayed appendectomy.

A ruptured appendix can actually lead to death in some cases. If it's left untreated, peritonitis can quickly spread, resulting in septicemia, or bacteria in the blood. Your body releases chemicals into the bloodstream to fight this infection, triggering an inflammatory response throughout the body called sepsis.

A cascade of reactions will follow, eventually causing septic shock , which includes severely low blood pressure and can ultimately lead to multiple organ failure and, in the worst-case scenario, death. By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: May 30, Medically Reviewed. Other appendicitis symptoms include: Nausea Vomiting Constipation Diarrhea Inability to pass gas Loss of appetite Abdominal swelling The standard treatment for appendicitis is an appendectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the appendix.

If you have an abscessed appendix, you may experience symptoms similar to appendicitis, including: 5 Pain in your lower right abdomen Diarrhea Lack of appetite Nausea Vomiting You may also experience other symptoms not typically associated with appendicitis, such as weakness, chills, high fever, and a feeling of rectal fullness. Other symptoms of peritonitis can include: Decreased appetite Fever Nausea Extreme thirst Vomiting Chills Confusion Rapid breathing Urinating less than normal or not at all.