Valentino appendix: a report of 3 cases

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Perforated duodenal ulcers (PDU) are a serious condition often presenting with acute abdominal pain.
• Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency with overlapping initial symptoms.

Observation:

• Three young male patients presented with peritonitis, initially diagnosed and treated for appendicitis via appendectomy.
• The underlying cause of peritonitis was perforated duodenal ulcer, missed during initial assessment.

Findings:

• Misdiagnosis of perforated duodenal ulcer as appendicitis resulted in delayed appropriate treatment.
• Patients experienced prolonged hospital courses and increased morbidity due to the diagnostic delay.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of comprehensive differential diagnosis in acute abdominal presentations.
• Emphasizes the need for thorough history-taking, physical examination, and consideration of intraoperative findings to avoid misdiagnosis and improve patient management.