Pathophysiology of Appendicitis and Developmentally Appropriate Nursing Care

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT 1
Nursing Assignment
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 2
Introduction:
In this case, Anne, a girl of age ten years is presented at a healthcare facility with right
iliac fossa pain, and after evaluation, the operative staff recognized signs and symptoms of
appendicitis and took her to the theatre for an appendectomy. However, they realized she had a
gangrenous perforated appendix with peritonitis. This discussion illustrates pathophysiology of
the presenting complaint and evaluates the response of the pediatric nurse to provide the best
care which incorporates growth and developmental theories for the specific age group, family-
centered care by family and the impacts of hospitalization on the child and family.
Describe the pathophysiology of the presenting complaint in the case study.
. Pathophysiology of appendicitis refers to the series of actions that lead to the
development of appendicitis. An understanding of the appendicitis pathophysiology is helpful in
acknowledging how fast the state should be controlled in case a medical diagnosis is suspected.
Appendicitis is the inflammation of the inner lining of the vermiform appendix that distributes to
its other parts (Rollins, Varadhan, Neal & Lobo, 2016). Although appendix has been thought to
be recent functionless studies shows that unlike its closest neighbor colon it comprises several
clusters of a particular type of white blood cells known as B along with T lymphoid cells. The
white blood cells clusters also called lymphoid tissues are part of defense systems in the gut
which liaises the function of immunologic to defend the body from the penetration by
catastrophic organisms.
Appendicitis arises when the appendix becomes acutely inflamed, and it is not known
why it happens, but it is thought to occur due to appendix lumen being blocked by lymphoid

NURSING ASSIGNMENT 3
hyperplasia, fecaliths or ordinary fecal matter because of a viral infection (Mendoza-Sagaon,
Hamitaga, Hurni & Voumard, 2016). Despite a therapeutic and diagnostic improvement in
medicine, it remains a clinical emergency, and it commonly causes an acute abdominal pain
(Hecker et al., 2016). However, the generality of appendicitis in young children recommends a
pathophysiology responsibility for lymphoid aggregates that jeopardize in amplitude in the
appendix. Once the appendix is obstructed, blood flow rate to body tissues reduces allowing
bacteria to multiply. Since the lumen is blocked, the pressure within the appendix increases
cutting venous drainage hence resulting in ischemia which if not treated can lead to gangrene and
necrosis. However, once this stage is attained the appendix is at risk of perforating for the
perforation takes only 72 hours to happen after the appendix has been blocked. After perforation,
inflammatory cells and bacteria are relinquished into the surrounding tissues influencing
inflammation of the peritonitis causing diffuse abdominal pain.
Nursing considerations involve pain related to inflames appendix and deficiency of fluid
volume compared to nil by mouth status. However, if the appendix is already raptured when the
child is seen in the emergency ward the possibility of peritonitis increases significantly, and the
child requires IV antibiotics for hydration (van den Boom et al., 2018). From the case study, the
doctors conducted appendectomy(Flum, 2015) on Anne because of the gangrenous perforated
appendix with peritonitis and went back to the ward with a nasogastric tube in situ for free
drainage and allowing the intestines to rest preventing the child from vomiting and nausea
(Joundi et al., 2018). Furthermore, Anne is on IV antibiotics to shield infections and morphine
PCA for the relief of pain.
Evaluate the nurse's role to deliver developmentally appropriate nursing care about
your chosen study.