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- Dictionaryrupture/ˈrʌptʃə/
verb
- 1. (especially of a pipe or container, or bodily part such as an organ or membrane) break or burst suddenly: "if the main artery ruptures he could die" Similar
- 2. breach or disturb (a harmonious feeling or situation): "once trust and confidence has been ruptured it can be difficult to regain" Similar
noun
- 1. an instance of breaking or bursting suddenly and completely: "a small hairline crack could develop into a rupture"
- 2. a breach of a harmonious relationship: "the rupture with his father would never be healed" Similar
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Rupture is a verb that means to cause something to explode, break, or tear, or a noun that means an occasion or condition of such an event. Learn how to use rupture in sentences, see synonyms and related words, and find translations in different languages.
Jul 1, 2020 · Learn how to handle ruptures, breaks in the connection between two people, in your relationships. Find out the prerequisites, skills, and tips for repairing ruptures and avoiding blame, anger, and resentment.
- Hilary Jacobs Hendel LCSW
- Overview
- Causes of a ruptured appendix
- Symptoms of appendicitis
- How long it takes for an appendix to rupture
- Complications of a ruptured appendix
- Treatment for a ruptured appendix
- Recovery process for a ruptured appendix
- Survival rate for a ruptured appendix
- Preventing a ruptured appendix
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Untreated appendicitis may cause your appendix to rupture (burst), resulting in an infection. Symptoms associated with a ruptured appendix include severe abdominal pain, fever, chills, and weakness.
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix. This small, thin, finger-shaped sac is located on the lower right side of your abdomen, where your small and large intestines connect. Most doctors think the appendix doesn’t have an important function and can be removed without causing harmful effects.
If your appendicitis is left untreated, your appendix can rupture (burst). When this happens, bacteria get released into your abdomen and can cause a serious infection.
A ruptured appendix, also known as a perforated appendix, can make you very sick and is sometimes hard to treat.
The biggest risk factor for a ruptured appendix is delaying treatment for appendicitis. The longer you wait to address your symptoms, the higher your risk.
According to a 2018 literature review, younger children are more likely to have a ruptured appendix than older children. This is because they have more trouble explaining their appendicitis symptoms to others.
The exact cause of appendicitis is unknown, but experts think an infection triggers inflammation inside the appendix.
For instance, If something blocks the opening of the appendix, an infection can follow. Bacteria can get trapped inside the appendix and multiply quickly, causing appendicitis. Viruses, parasites, and stool buildup may cause the blockages and infections that result in appendicitis. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is another possible cause of appendicitis.
When appendicitis isn’t treated promptly and correctly, bacteria or pus build up. As this happens, pressure increases and the appendix swells. Eventually, it swells so much that the blood supply to part of the appendix gets cut off. That part of the appendix wall dies, and a hole or tear develops in the dead wall. The high pressure pushes the bacteria and pus into the abdominal cavity.
A ruptured appendix usually oozes or leaks into the abdomen instead of bursting like a balloon.
Appendicitis symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions that affect the abdomen, such as a stomach virus or an ovarian cyst. For this reason, it can be hard to tell if you have appendicitis.
The classic symptoms of appendicitis are pain starting around the belly button and then vomiting. Several hours later, the pain moves to the lower right abdomen.
If you have these symptoms and think it might be appendicitis, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Quick treatment is essential to avoid a rupture.
Other symptoms of appendicitis include:
•abdominal pain that may start in the upper or middle abdomen but usually settles in the lower right abdomen
•abdominal pain that increases when you walk, stand, jump, cough, or sneeze
Appendicitis inflames the appendix and causes it to swell. Without treatment, the pressure eventually reaches the point where the appendix bursts. This can happen as quickly as 48 to 72 hours after your symptoms start.
Peritonitis
When bacteria leave the intestine and enter the abdominal cavity, the lining of your abdominal cavity becomes inflamed. This condition is called peritonitis. Peritonitis can be very serious and very painful. It requires immediate treatment. The symptoms of peritonitis are similar to those of appendicitis, except: •the pain is in your whole abdomen •the pain is constant and more severe •your fever is often higher •your breathing and heart rate may be fast because of fever, infection, or severe pain •you may have other symptoms, including chills, weakness, and confusion
Abscess
When you have an infection in your abdomen, the surrounding tissues sometimes try to wall off the infection from the rest of your abdomen. The wall forms an abscess, a closed-off collection of bacteria and pus. Symptoms of an abscess are also similar to those of appendicitis, except: •the pain may be in one area (but not always the lower right abdomen), or it may be in your entire abdomen •the pain can be either a dull ache or sharp and stabbing •the fever doesn’t go away, even when you take antibiotics •you may have other symptoms, such as chills and weakness
Sepsis
When left untreated, the bacteria from a ruptured appendix can enter your bloodstream, causing a serious condition called sepsis. Sepsis is inflammation throughout your entire body. Symptoms of sepsis include: •fever or a low temperature •fast heartbeat and breathing •chills •weakness •confusion •low blood pressure
The treatment for a ruptured appendix is to remove your appendix with surgery.
Doctors sometimes wait to perform surgery on a child who isn’t in any immediate danger. The surgeon will drain infected fluid from the abdomen, have the child take antibiotics, and remove the appendix later. The name for delayed surgery is interval appendectomy.
You’ll need to take antibiotics once your ruptured appendix is removed or a drain is put into an abscess. You’ll typically take antibiotics before, during, and after surgery.
The length of antibiotic treatment will vary. Your surgeon will analyze your case to determine the best plan for you.
One 2021 study recommended that postsurgical antibiotic treatment be limited to 3 to 6 days.
Open surgery (instead of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery) is typically used for a ruptured appendix. It helps your doctor ensure all of the infection is cleaned out.
After surgery, you’ll need to keep the incision clean and dry. Avoid taking a bath or shower until your doctor says it’s fine to do so.
It can take up to 6 weeks to fully recover from open surgery. Try not to lift anything heavy or participate in sports or other strenuous activities during this time. Your recovery will take longer if you have a drain inserted and shorter if you have a laparoscopic procedure.
Without quick treatment, a ruptured appendix is a life threatening condition.
When the appendix hasn’t perforated, the risk of death is under 1% according to a 2020 literature review. The risk can be as high as 5% if the appendix has perforated.
Treating a ruptured appendix increases the odds of survival.
If you get medical attention right away for appendicitis, you have a better chance of fully recovering if your appendix ruptures. That’s why it’s important to see a doctor if you have any symptoms of appendicitis.
There’s no way of knowing when or if appendicitis will happen, so you can’t prevent it. However, you can avoid a rupture if you get immediate treatment.
The key is to know the symptoms of appendicitis. If you have any abdominal pain combined with nausea or other symptoms, get medical help immediately.
A ruptured appendix is when the appendix bursts and releases bacteria into the abdomen, causing a serious infection. Learn about the risk factors, signs, and possible outcomes of this condition, and how to prevent it with timely treatment.
Rupture is a verb that means to cause something to explode, break, or tear, or a noun that means an occasion of such an event. Learn how to use rupture in different contexts, see examples, and find translations in other languages.
Learn the meaning, history, and usage of the word rupture as a noun and a verb. Find synonyms, antonyms, examples, and related phrases for rupture.
Feb 1, 2024 · A ruptured spleen is a medical emergency that occurs as a result of a break in your spleen's surface. Learn about the signs, causes, complications and treatment of this condition from Mayo Clinic experts.
Jul 19, 2023 · As an aneurysm grows, the affected part of the artery’s wall thins. If it eventually breaks, the result is an aortic aneurysm rupture. A rupture interrupts blood flow to much of the body and ...
