Appendicular bleeding: an excepcional cause of lower hemorrhage

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Acute appendicitis is common, but chronic complications from conservative management are infrequent.
• Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage can present as an acute complication.

Observation:

• A young patient with a history of acute appendicitis managed conservatively presented with acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Colonoscopy revealed bleeding originating from the appendix.

Findings:

• Surgical intervention was performed to treat the appendicular bleeding.
• Pathological examination confirmed granulomatous appendicitis.
• The patient recovered well with no recurrence of bleeding.

Implications:

• Appendicular hemorrhage, though unusual, is a potentially severe complication of non-surgically treated acute appendicitis.
• This case underscores the need for thorough investigation in cases of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, considering appendiceal sources.