International Journal of Case Reports and Images (IJCRI) is an international, peer reviewed, monthly, open access, online journal, publishing high-quality, articles in all areas of basic medical sciences and clinical specialties.Aim of IJCRI is to encourage the publication of new information by providing a platform for reporting of unique, unusual and rare cases which enhance understanding of disease process, its diagnosis, management and clinico-pathologic correlations.IJCRI publishes Review Articles, Case Series, Case Reports, Case in Images, Clinical Images and Letters to Editor.
Website: www.ijcasereportsandimages.com
Post-appendectomy appendicitis: A case reportAli Safar, Abdulrahman Al-Aqeeli, Ahmad Al-Mass, Bader Al-Shaban ABSTRACT Introduction: Acute appendicitis is a common surgical emergency that requires intervention. The accurate diagnosis remains challenging in some cases despite advances in both minimally invasive surgery and radiology. Stump appendicitis is a rare complication after appendectomy. It is defined as the acute inflammation of the residual appendix. A small number of stump appendicitis cases have been reported. Case Report: We report a case of stump appendicitis in a 42-year-old female, nine months following a laparoscopic appendectomy. She presented with a 24-hour history of abdominal pain, which started periumbilically and then localized to the right lower quadrant. Physical examination showed tenderness in the right iliac fossa with evidence of rebound and guarding. Laboratory studies were remarkable for leukocytosis. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed a remnant appendicular segment with a maximum cross diameter of about 1.2 cm, associated with local inflammatory changes and surrounding fat stranding. An open stump appendectomy was performed uneventfully. Conclusion: Stump appendicitis is a rare but serious complication of appendectomy. It can represent a diagnostic dilemma if the treating clinician is unfamiliar with this rare clinical entity. Prompt recognition is important to avoid serious complications. Proper identification of the appendicular base intraoperatively and leaving the appendix stump shorter than 5 mm decrease the risk of stump appendicitis.