Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Unveiling appendicitis.

Alexandra C Morgan1

  • 1University of Newcastle, New South Wales.

Contemporary Nurse
|December 3, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Accurate nursing assessment for appendicitis is crucial, as right lower quadrant pain is not always present. Evaluating additional symptoms ensures timely diagnosis and prevents complications like peritonitis.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

The impact of containment strategies on nurses caring for patients with delirium during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Contemporary nurse·2026
Same journal

Translating cultural safety principles into clinical practice: a qualitative study of nursing and midwifery student experiences.

Contemporary nurse·2026
Same journal

Early career nurses' well-being at work in care settings for older people - a cross-sectional survey.

Contemporary nurse·2026
Same journal

Transition programs for newly graduated nurses - A resource during the first months of the profession? An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Contemporary nurse·2026
Same journal

Validity and reliability of the strain of care for delirium index in intensive care unit nurses: A psychometric testing study.

Contemporary nurse·2026
Same journal

Development and validation of the co-designed social frailty 10-Item screening tool (SF-10).

Contemporary nurse·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Medical Sciences
  • Surgical Nursing
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Appendicitis, acute inflammation of the vermiform appendix, is a common surgical diagnosis affecting up to 12% of the population.
  • Localized right lower quadrant abdominal pain is a typical symptom, but not universally present in appendicitis cases.
  • A significant minority of patients experience diffuse abdominal pain, mimicking conditions like gastritis, necessitating a broader diagnostic approach.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the limitations of relying solely on localized pain for appendicitis diagnosis.
  • To emphasize the importance of a comprehensive nursing assessment for appendicitis.
  • To identify key signs and symptoms beyond localized pain for accurate appendicitis detection.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of clinical presentation and diagnostic indicators of appendicitis.
  • Analysis of patient symptoms, including pain characteristics, vital signs, and behavioral changes.
  • Examination of nursing assessment protocols for abdominal pain.

    • Main Results:

    • Right lower quadrant pain is not a definitive indicator for appendicitis in all cases.
    • Diffuse abdominal pain occurs in approximately one-third of appendicitis patients.
    • A thorough nursing assessment incorporating vital signs, behavior, body positioning, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting is essential.

    Conclusions:

    • Accurate and comprehensive abdominal pain assessment is vital for diagnosing appendicitis.
    • Effective assessment aids in preventing severe complications such as perforation and peritonitis.
    • Improved diagnostic accuracy leads to better patient outcomes in appendicitis management.