Misdiagnosis of Appendicitis Can Lead to Rupture and Wrongful Death

One of the most common reasons that people go to the emergency room is due to abdominal or stomach pain. Most of the time it is not life threatening, but when abdominal pain is caused by an appendicitis it must be treated quickly in order to avoid serious injury or death. An appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal pain which ultimately requires surgery. Moreover, misdiagnosis of an appendicitis is one of the most common lawsuits that is successful against emergency room departments and doctors.

What Are the Common Signs and Symptoms of an Appendicitis?

It is important to understand that not all patients will present to the hospital with classic signs and symptoms. Nonetheless, there are some common indicators that doctors look for:

Constant pain in the abdomen, usually below the bellybutton and on the right side

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever and chills

Diagnosing Appendicitis

In addition to looking for the signs and symptoms list above, doctors have other means of diagnosing an appendicitis. It is crucial for the doctor to spend enough time with the patient in order to fully understand that patient’s complaints and medical history. Approximately 30% of people are seen by a previous physician before being correctly diagnosed.

• Carefully consider the patients medical history
• Review previous charts
• Perform a thorough physical exam
• Perform diagnostic testing such as CT Scan and white blood cell (WBC) count
• Consult timely with surgical team

READ MORE: Common Ways in Which an Appendicitis is Misdiagnosed

If you believe you or a loved one’s appendicitis was not treated properly, contact the Tennessee appendicitis misdiagnosis attorneys at Bailey & Greer for a free case evaluation. You can reach us at 901-680-9777.