Surgical Questions and Answers

Free Medical and Surgical Questions And Answers

9. Can appendicitis occur in a non-obstructed appendix? How?

Correct answer:

Occasionally, appendicitis can occur in the non-obstructed appendix. Here there may be a direct infection of the lymphoid follicles from the appendix lumen, or in some cases the infection may be haematogenous (e.g. the rare streptococcal appendicitis). The non-obstructed acutely inflamed appendix is more likely to resolve than the obstructed form.