Ayurvedic Management of Acute Appendicitis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND

Appendicitis is a common condition typically treated surgically via appendectomy. However, recently there has been increased interest in non-surgical treatment options, such as antibiotics, to avoid risks of surgical complications.

OBJECTIVE

This case report describes a non-surgical, Ayurvedic intervention for uncomplicated acute appendicitis (without perforation).

CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old male was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Initial management included a single dose of multiple intravenous medications, including antibiotics, an antiemetic, and a proton pump inhibitor. However, he refused laparoscopic appendectomy. The patient sought an Ayurvedic consultation immediately after discharge from the hospital.

INTERVENTION: The patient was prescribed an herbal regimen, provided with dietary recommendations, and followed-up closely over the following two weeks.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were visualization and measurement of the appendix via abdominal ultrasound, and pain score (on a scale of 0-10).

RESULTS

The patient demonstrated rapid and sustained symptom resolution, with his pain score decreasing from 8 to 0 over two weeks. There was also normalization of diagnostic imaging findings, with the patient's appendix decreasing in size from 9 mm to <4 mm.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this case suggests that Ayurvedic intervention may be useful for treating uncomplicated acute appendicitis as an alternative to surgical intervention, with no adverse effects. However, literature lacks data on the incidence and clinical outcomes of Ayurvedic treatment for appendicitis. Hence, further rigorous studies are needed to investigate the incidence and assess the efficacy of Ayurvedic treatment protocols for uncomplicated acute appendicitis.

KEYWORDS: Ayurveda, acute appendicitis, case report, botanical medicine, nutrition therapy.