RT During Appendicitis

I have read that in some European countries it was common practice to take simultaneous oral and rectal temps when appendicitis was suspected under the theory the rectal temp would be abnormally high due to inflammation. This wasn’t done in the USA, rather a rectal exam was performed. Does anyone have experience with this?

Don't do either now. CT if possible.

They would probably use IR thermometers for better localization, though the idea is correct that infection would be a bit warmer.

Was surprised when I didn't get a rectal exam, guess that was stopped pretty recently. Wasn't in the mood for one anyway, at least until they got the morphine in.

Had a family member years ago, a teen who suffered appendicitis. At the time brought into the ER a second teen came in for suspected appendicitis. Due to circumstances staff issues, time constraints, in the ER dept. amidst family members from both families, both teens despite their aches and pains were mortified as their rectal temperatures were taken at the same time in front of the two families present. They were about 16 years old . And one was a male, the others female. Yes no real privacy as ER dept. was hectic!

Both had surgery and recovered completely.,

Are RTs still done for suspected appendicitis? Don’t know.

I had appendicitis in Hong Kong back in the late 80s / early 90s and had to stay in the hospital for a few days after the operation.... The nurses took my temperature maybe every 6 hours and at night they would take it rectally... They never used lube either just like this thin plastic sheath...

I grew up in an era when rectal temperatures were the norm in French hospitals for both children and adults, and I recall I had to insert the thermometer rectally after appendectomy. I don't recall any oral temperature at any point in childhood.

Don't do either now. CT if possible.

Correct in my experience working in paediatric health. IR thermometers are the only option regularly in use in modern western healthcare. Much easier to keep sterile primarily.

The rationale behind this, is with appendicitis, or other types of bad intestinal infections, the temperature of the intestines can be elevated, known as a “hot belly”. In those situations, it’s not income for there to be a widened gap between rectal and oral temperatures. Obviously, there are better ways to diagnose it for sure, it is a sign that can further point towards appendicitis

I’ve heard this too in the past taking an oral temperature then take a rectal temperature and if the rectal reading is much higher, it might indicate appendicitis, but I think these days they probably use an ultrasound to see if the appendix is enlarged.🌡️

Supposedly Israel did both oral and rectal temps to test for appendicitis for people complaining of abdominal pain. later studies provided little correlation, lots of things could cause the difference

I seem to recall a post where someone in the US had abdominal pain as a child, and due to an elevated rectal temp they decided to do an appendectomy. It wasn’t the appendix ( which I think they took out anyway), but then extended into exploraratory surgery that didn’t find anything.

This was many years ago before ultrasound and other more accurate diagnostic tools were common.

@Rigel My appendectomy was diagnosed by clinical signs (fever, vomiting), abdominal palpation, and digital rectal exam; the whole exam happened twice (once by our GP, then by a hospital physician), I suppose for confirmation. I don't think that had the time there were ultrasound machines precise enough to make such a diagnosis (but I may be mistaken). Some people mention CT scan but I think at the time it was a rarity available only for cancer diagnoses. In my case, we're talking about things that happened forty years ago…

I haven't heard RT used to diagnose appendicitis. I don't think it would increase clinical suspicions for it either. Characteristic right lower abdominal pain with some combo of fever, nausea, or other abdominal symptoms are the things that tell me the patient bought a CT scan, or ultrasound in kids. In the olden days, they'd just do open abdomen surgery if they thought you had it.

In France and Germany this definitely happened up until the end of the century