Lecture on Appendicitis and the Story of Leonid Rogozov

Introduction

In April 1961, a significant event occurred during the Sixth Soviet Antarctic Expedition.
Dr. Leonid Rogozov, the only physician on the team, experienced appendicitis.
Extreme situation: had to perform surgery on himself due to a blizzard preventing evacuation.

Prevalence: Affects 1 in 12 people.
Symptoms: Weakness, fever, and severe pain in the abdomen, typically migrating from the belly button to the lower right side.

Appendix Description:
- Small, worm-shaped organ attached to the large intestine.
- Contains diverse gut microbes.
- Historically considered a vestigial organ.
- Recent evidence suggests it has a subtle function, possibly related to gut bacteria reservoir or immune response.
Common Causes:
- Obstruction by appendicolith (small stool piece).
- Infections or immune responses triggered by viruses, parasites, or gut bacteria.
- Swelling of nearby lymph nodes, closing the appendix opening.

Appendix acts as a closed loop; obstruction leads to pressure build-up.
Creates an environment ripe for bacterial growth and inflammation.
Potential for rupture if untreated, spreading infection within the abdomen, posing fatal risks.

Standard Treatment: Appendectomy, surgical removal of the appendix.
- Performed within 24 hours of diagnosis.
- Methods include large incision or laparoscopic surgery.
- Quick recovery, 1-2 day hospital stay.
- If ruptured, surgery is more extensive to clean the abdominal cavity.
Antibiotics:
- Recent medical advances allow treatment with antibiotics.
- Can avoid surgery if appendicitis is mild.