[Appendiceal stump appendicitis]

Stump appendicitis is a rare disease characterized by inflammation of the appendiceal remnant. Although normally this is an early complication, it can present up to 50 years after surgery.

Male patient of 66 years old with antecedent of laparoscopic appendectomy, presented with abdominal pain, leucocytosis and peritoneal irritation. It was decided he should have surgical management upon finding stump appendicitis, that is, doing stump appendectomy. His evolution was satisfactory.

The diagnosis is a challenge for the surgeon, because imaging studies have not proved very helpful for diagnosis. Resection of the cecal appendix by laparoscopic techniques is now more common, providing the possibility of leaving a long stump, perhaps due to technical difficulties. A history of appendectomy may delay diagnosis thus increasing the morbidity and mortality. The resolution of appendiceal stump appendicitis by surgery is performed either by laparoscopic or open resection of the appendiceal remnant.