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Acute perforated neonatal appendicitis associated with chorioamnionitis.
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Bnai Zion Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel. asherpr@netvision.net.il
Summary
Neonatal acute perforated appendicitis is rare, especially in premature infants. Maternal chorioamnionitis may play a role in its development, suggesting a link to maternal-fetal infection.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Appendiceal perforation is a rare neonatal complication, more frequent in premature infants.
- It is often associated with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), but also Hirschsprung's disease (HD), cystic fibrosis (CF), or acute appendicitis (AA).
Observation:
- A preterm neonate, born to a mother with chorioamnionitis, presented with signs of perforated abdominal viscus on day six.
- Surgical exploration and histological examination confirmed acute perforated appendicitis.
Findings:
- This case highlights a rare instance of acute perforated appendicitis in a preterm neonate.
- The concurrent maternal chorioamnionitis suggests a potential link between maternal-fetal infection and neonatal appendicitis.
Implications:
- Maternal-fetal infection, specifically chorioamnionitis, may be an etiological factor in neonatal acute perforated appendicitis.
- This finding underscores the importance of considering infectious causes in neonates presenting with abdominal emergencies.
- Further research is warranted to explore the role of intrauterine infections in neonatal surgical conditions.