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Pseudomyocardial infarction associated with a retrocaecal gangrenous appendix
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|September 3, 2002
Summary
A rare case of pseudomyocardial infarction was diagnosed in a 54-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain. This condition mimicked heart attack symptoms but was caused by a gangrenous retrocaecal appendix.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Cardiology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) can present with diverse symptoms, sometimes mimicking other acute conditions.
- Acute abdominal pathologies can rarely present with electrocardiographic changes resembling cardiac events.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old male presented with central abdominal pain and ECG changes suggestive of anteroseptal MI.
- Serial cardiac enzymes did not confirm myocardial infarction.
- Laparotomy revealed a gangrenous retrocaecal appendix.
Findings:
- The patient's presentation mimicked a pseudomyocardial infarction.
- This was attributed to a retrocaecal appendicitis, a rare cause of such symptoms.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering non-cardiac causes in patients with suspected MI.
- It highlights a rare association between acute surgical abdomen and pseudomyocardial infarction.
- This is the first reported instance of pseudomyocardial infarction complicating retrocaecal appendicitis.