Aetiology

Obstruction of the lumen of the appendix is the main cause of acute appendicitis. Faecolith (a hard mass of faecal matter), normal stool, or lymphoid hyperplasia are the main causes for obstruction.

Other postulated mechanisms of appendicitis, based on emerging research, include parasitic infection, schistosomal infection, and neuroimmune aetiology.[14][15][16]​​​[17]​ These are ongoing areas of investigation.​

Pathophysiology

The lumen distal to the obstruction starts to fill with mucus and acts as a closed-loop obstruction. This leads to distension and an increase in intraluminal and intramural pressure. As the condition progresses, the resident bacteria in the appendix rapidly multiply. The most common bacteria in the appendix are Bacteroides fragilis and Escherichia coli.[18]

Distension of the lumen of the appendix causes reflex anorexia, nausea and vomiting, and visceral pain.

As the pressure of the lumen exceeds the venous pressure, the small venules and capillaries become thrombosed but arterioles remain open, which leads to engorgement and congestion of the appendix. The inflammatory process soon involves the serosa of the appendix, hence the parietal peritoneum in the region, which causes classic right lower quadrant pain, at McBurney's point.

Once the small arterioles are thrombosed, the anti-mesenteric border becomes ischaemic, and infarction and perforation ensue. Bacteria leak out through the dying wall and pus forms (suppuration) within and around the appendix. Perforations are usually seen just beyond the obstruction rather than at the tip of the appendix.[19]

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