A WOMAN WITH APPENDICITIS

- APPENDICITIS IS INFLAMMATION OF THE APPENDIX

TREATMENT

- IF A WOMAN IS NEAR TERM (PAST 36 WEEKS) AND THE

FETUS IS BELIEVED TO BE MATURE, CESAREAN MAY BE
DONE TO BIRTH THE BABY AND THEN REMOVE THE
INFLAMED APPENDIX AT THE SAME TIME. IF APPENDICITIS
OCCURS EARLY IN PREGNANCY, THE INFLAMED APPENDIX
IS REMOVED BY LAPAROSCOPY

A WOMAN WITH GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

OR HIATAL HERNIA

- GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD) REFERS TO

THE REFLUC OF ACID STOMACH SECRETIONS INTO THE
ESOPHAGUS
- HIATAL HERNIA IS A CONDITION IN WHICH A PORTION OF
THE STOMACH EXTENDS AND PROTRUDES UP THROUGH
THE DIAPHRAGM INTO THE CHEST CAVITY, TRAPPING
STOMACH ACID AND CAUSING IT TO REFLUX INTO THE
ESOPHAGUS.
EFFECT

- HEARTBURN, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY EXTREME WHEN

LYING SUPINE AFTER A FULL MEAL
- GASTRIC REGURGITATION
- DYSPHAGIA (DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING)
- HEMATEMESIS (VOMITING OF BLOOD) IF EXTRREME
ESOPHAGEAL IRRITATION OCCURS FROM THE REFLUX OF
HYDROCHLORIC ACID FROM THE STOMACH

TREATMENT

- IN MOST WOMEN, ANTACIDS WILL RELIEVE PAIN. A

HISTAMINE RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, SUCH AS
RANITIDINE, CAN BE PRESCRIBED TO INHIBIT GASTRIC
ACID PRODUCTION AND HELP MINIMIZE PAIN. PROTON
PUMP INHIBITORS SUCH AS ESOMEPRAZOLE