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Acute appendicitis caused by metallic foreign body (bullet). Case report
J Hørby-Petersen1, T Kristiansen, R Jelnes
1Department of Gastroenterologic Surgery D, Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Hellerup, Denmark.
Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica
|November 1, 1987
Summary
A rare case of acute appendicitis was linked to a bullet lodged in the appendix, discovered 9 years after the initial bullet wound. This finding highlights a unique complication of penetrating trauma.
Area of Science:
- Medical Case Reports
- Surgical Pathology
- Trauma Surgery
Background:
- Penetrating abdominal trauma can lead to delayed complications.
- Foreign bodies retained after injury may cause unforeseen health issues.
- Appendicitis is a common surgical emergency, typically without foreign body association.
Observation:
- A patient presented with symptoms of acute appendicitis.
- Imaging and subsequent surgery revealed a bullet within the appendix.
- The bullet was identified as the likely cause of the appendicitis.
Findings:
- The appendix was inflamed and contained a bullet, consistent with foreign body-induced appendicitis.
- The bullet was surgically removed along with the appendix.
- Histopathological examination confirmed appendicitis and the presence of the projectile.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for retained projectiles to cause late-onset appendicitis.
- It highlights the importance of considering remote trauma in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pathologies.
- Such occurrences, though rare, expand the understanding of foreign body complications in surgical practice.