As appendiceal inflammation increases, it extends through the appendix to its outer covering and then to the lining of the abdomen, a thin membrane called the peritoneum. The optimum time to treat acute appendicitis is within (24-48 hrs) from the time that the patient developed signs of appendicitis. During a traditional appendectomy procedure, the patient is placed under general anesthesia in order to keep his/her muscles completely relaxed and to keep the patient unconscious.
Many people admitted to the hospital for suspected appendicitis leave the hospital with a diagnosis of gastroenteritis; initially, true appendicitis is often misdiagnosed as gastroenteritis. Without treatment, an inflamed appendix can rupture, causing infection of the peritoneal cavity (the lining around the abdominal organs) and even death.
