What Causes an Appendix to Burst?

Your appendix is a small, tube-like organ found in your lower right abdomen.  It’s a nonessential organ that plays a role in digestion and gut health, and if it gets inflamed, it can cause some serious health problems.

Appendicitis occurs when your appendix is blocked, causing swelling, infection, and pain. If left untreated, the pressure inside your appendix can build up, cutting off blood flow and causing the organ to burst or rupture.

A burst appendix is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgery to prevent life-threatening complications. The good news is that seeking treatment for signs of appendicitis early can help you get the care you need to protect your health.

Elvira Klause, MD, FACS, and our team specialize in abdominal surgery in Laguna Hills, California. Today, we’re here to answer some of the most common questions we hear about appendicitis and what causes an appendix to burst.

How appendicitis can cause a burst appendix

Appendicitis typically starts with symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. The pain often begins near your belly button and shifts to your lower right abdomen as the inflammation worsens.

It develops when your appendix gets blocked, sometimes caused by a buildup of stool, mucus, or even foreign materials like seeds. The blockage traps bacteria inside, leading to infection and swelling.

Appendicitis pain is serious and hard to ignore. And if the infection isn’t treated promptly, your appendix can get so inflamed that it ruptures, spilling bacteria and infected material into your abdominal cavity.

A burst appendix can result in peritonitis, which is a severe infection of the abdominal lining, or an abscess. Both conditions are dangerous and require urgent surgical intervention to remove your appendix and clean the infected area.

Understanding appendicitis vs. a burst appendix

Appendicitis is a painful and urgent condition, but it’s not as immediately dangerous as a burst appendix. 

Appendicitis gives you a window of time for diagnosis and treatment, which usually involves a surgical procedure called an appendectomy. During an appendectomy, we remove your inflamed appendix to prevent it from bursting.

But a burst appendix escalates the situation into a critical emergency. The spread of infection can lead to sepsis, a potentially fatal condition where your body’s response to infection damages its own tissues. 

That’s why it’s crucial to recognize the early signs of appendicitis and seek medical attention before it progresses to a rupture.

Treatment options for appendicitis 

If you have appendicitis, prompt medical attention is essential. Dr. Klause and our team offer laparoscopic appendectomy, which is a minimally invasive surgery that minimizes recovery time and your risk of complications. 

A timely appendectomy not only relieves pain but also prevents the dangerous progression to a burst appendix.

If your appendix has burst, emergency surgery is the only way to address the condition and prevent further complications. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for care, and your surgeon will remove your appendix and carefully clean your abdominal cavity to eliminate any infected material. 

That means if you experience sudden abdominal pain or suspect appendicitis, don’t wait to get it checked out. Recognizing symptoms early and seeking professional care can make a big difference in recovery and your long-term health. 

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Klause online or call us at 949-245-6910 to learn more about your treatment options. Our office is located in Laguna Hills, California.