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Stump appendicitis: a rare but important entity

G Roche-Nagle1, C Gallagher, C Kilgallen

  • 1Department of Surgery, Sligo General Hospital, Sligo, Ireland. grnagle@rcsi.ie

The Surgeon : Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland
|March 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Recurrent appendicitis can occur in the appendiceal stump years after an appendicectomy. This rare condition, often difficult to diagnose, presents as right lower quadrant pain.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Case Reports

Background:

  • Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency.
  • Appendicectomy is the standard treatment for appendicitis.
  • Recurrent appendicitis in the appendiceal stump is a rare complication.

Observation:

  • A 35-year-old male presented with right lower quadrant pain.
  • The patient had a history of appendicectomy 14 years prior.
  • Exploratory laparotomy revealed recurrent appendicitis with perforation in the appendiceal stump.

Findings:

  • Inflammation of the appendiceal stump (stump appendicitis) can occur despite previous appendicectomy.
  • Diagnosis can be challenging due to a broad differential diagnosis for right lower quadrant pain and a history of prior surgery.
  • Prompt recognition is crucial to prevent complications.

Implications:

  • Physicians should consider stump appendicitis in patients with a history of appendicectomy presenting with right lower quadrant pain.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment of stump appendicitis can reduce patient morbidity.
  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare complications of common surgical procedures.

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