Incidental laparoscopic appendectomy for acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain

Background: Removing the normal appendix when operating for suspected acute appendicitis is the standard of care. The use of laparoscopy should not alter this practice. Methods: Retrospective review of 72 patients found to have grossly normal appendices while undergoing laparoscopy for suspected appendicitis. Twenty-eight patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) alone while 44 patients underwent diagnostic laparoscopy with incidental laparoscopic appendectomy (ILA). Results: There was no difference in length of hospitalization (DL = 44 h, ILA = 43 h, p= 0.49) or morbidity (DL = 11%, ILA = 5%, p= 0.37). One patient required appendectomy 11 days after diagnostic laparoscopy for recurrent acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Five percent of resected appendices (2/44) demonstrated acute inflammation upon pathologic review. Conclusions: Laparoscopic removal of the normal appendix produces no added morbidity or increase in length of hospitalization as compared to diagnostic laparoscopy. It demonstrates cost effectiveness by preventing missed and future appendicitis. Incidental laparoscopic appendectomy is the preferred treatment option. Received 3 April 1997/Accepted: 3 July 1997     

Chronic appendicitis. Recurrent abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant from the viewpoint of the internist

There is no clear scientific evidence for a clinically relevant chronic form of appendicitis in the absence of acute flares. Lacking typical symptoms of acute appendicitis or corresponding imaging findings, no indication is given for appendectomy from the internal medicine point of view. By contrast, chronic or recurrent right lower quadrant pain is often of functional origin and may be part of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome or the Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome. These syndromes are linked to a higher rate of appendectomies in the medical history. The Irritable Bowel Syndrome may be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms alone. But in doubt and in considering malignancy, the indication for diagnostic imaging is given, after ultrasound particularly by colonoscopy. For positively diagnosing these functional syndromes, the typical clinical presentation, extraintestinal pain syndromes, and psychic factors should be evaluated. The visceral hypersensitivity is the predominant pathophysiologic finding and measured by rectal distention stimuli. Medical treatment comprises relaxatives of smooth muscle and low dose antidepressants as modulators of visceral perception. These are supplemented by the psychosocial management.     

Periappendiceal dermoid: a rare cause of right lower quadrant pain

Dermoids are mature teratomas lined with a stratified squamous epithelium. They are known to present anywhere in the body, mostly with minimal or no associated symptoms. The authors present the case of a 44-year-old man who presented with an acute abdomen suggestive of appendiceal disease. On surgical exploration, the patient was found to have an inflamed cystic lesion in the mesoappendix that was resected and diagnosed as a dermoid cyst on pathological examination. This is the seventh case in the literature of a periappendiceal dermoid, but the first that presents in such a manner. This report is presented because of its important clinical applications for the general surgeon.     

Observation versus operation for abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant. Roles of the clinical examination and the leukocyte count

In-hospital observation of patients with abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant has been suggested as a means of improving diagnostic accuracy and of decreasing the incidence of negative laparotomy. An analysis of 97 patients brought to the operating room over a 12 month period in a university hospital suggests that patients with the classic pattern of migratory pain, rebound tenderness, and an increased number of metamyelocytes in the peripheral blood smear most likely require operation. Leukocytosis alone was not predictive of a surgically remediable disease, which suggests that a period of observation in patients with atypical patterns of pain and no peritoneal signs is a sound treatment plan.     

Right lower quadrant abdominal pain due to appendicitis and an incarcerated spigelian hernia

Spigelian hernias are uncommon and difficult to diagnose because of their location in the aponeurosis in the anterior abdominal wall. When they occur on the right side, the symptoms can include nonspecific abdominal pain mimicking appendicitis. We present an adult with right lower quadrant abdominal pain due to an incarcerated spigelian hernia and acute appendicitis. Early recognition and prompt surgical treatment were important to the successful treatment of our patient.     

Infarction of the ileocecal fold of Treves: a case of right lower quadrant pain

The ileocecal fold of Treves is a peritoneal structure extending from the antimesenteric surface of the terminal ileum to the base of the appendix. No known pathologic conditions have been previously associated with it. We report a 30-year-old woman with acute onset of right lower quadrant pain. Her history was atypical for appendicitis. Endovaginal ultrasonography did not reveal gynecologic pathology. After a period of observation, the patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. This revealed inflammation and necrosis of the ileocecal fold of Treves and a normal-appearing appendix. The lesion was removed and appendectomy was performed. The patient's symptoms resolved immediately after surgery. Histopathologic examination of the lesion revealed fat necrosis, hemorrhagic necrosis, and lymphocytic infiltration. The appendix was normal. In conclusion, infarction of the ileocecal fold of Treves may be included in the differential diagnosis of right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Laparoscopy facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of unusual abdominal lesions.     

Actinomycosis of the sigmoid colon as the etiology of lower abdominal pain

We report a case of abdominal actinomycosis in a young woman wearing an intrauterine contraceptive device. The patient presented with right lower abdominal pain. A diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Intraoperatively two perforations of the sigma were detected, a sigmoidectomy was performed. Postoperatively no problems occurred. Histology revealed an abdominal actinomycosis. In the literature only some case reports are published dealing with abdominal actinomycosis. Women wearing intrauterine contraceptive devices seem to have a higher risk of actinomycosis. In unproblematic cases antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice. In cases of doubt as in our case surgery is recommended to confirm the diagnosis.     

Unusual case of acute appendicitis with left upper quadrant abdominal pain

INTRODUCTIONAcute appendicitis is one of the most frequent causes of surgical abdominal pain presenting to the Emergency Department. The diagnosis is confirmed by a set of clinical signs, blood tests and imaging.The typical presentation consists of periumbilical pain radiating to the right lower quadrant with peritoneal reaction on palpation (Mac Burney).PRESENTATION OF CASEIn this article, we report a case of acute appendicitis presenting with a left upper quadrant pain due to intestinal malrotation and we describe the radiologic findings on computed tomography.DISCUSSIONWith an Alvarado score of 4 and a nonconclusive abdominal U/S, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was a long shot. Persistence of pain and increasing inflammatory parameters in her blood exams pushed the medical team to further investigate and a CT scan revealed intestinal malrotation with acute appendicitis.CONCLUSIONAn examining physician should not be mislead by the atypical presentation of acute appendicitis and should bear in mind the diagnosis to avoid serious complications.     

Results of urgent appendectomy for right lower quadrant tenderness

The outcome was examined for 196 cases of urgent appendectomy in patients with abdominal pain and right lower quadrant tenderness and signs of peritoneal irritation. Appendicitis was found in 94 percent, and there was a 6 percent negative appendectomy rate. There were no complications among the patients with normal appendixes. Complications among cases of appendicitis compared favorably with other published series.     

Impact of computed tomography of the abdomen on clinical outcomes in patients with acute right lower quadrant pain: a meta-analysis

Background

Clinical evaluation alone is still considered adequate by many clinicians who treat patients with appendicitis. The impact of computed tomography (CT) on clinical outcomes remains unclear, and there is no consensus regarding the appropriate use of CT in these patients. We sought to evaluate the impact of abdominal CT on the clinical outcomes of patients presenting with suspected appendicitis.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify studies that examined clinical outcomes related to the use of abdominal CT in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Inclusion criteria were studies of adult patients with suspected appendicitis that evaluated the impact of abdominal CT on negative appendectomy rates, perforation rates or time to surgery. Two independent investigators reviewed all titles and abstracts and extracted data from 28 full-text articles. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.0.10 software.

Results

The negative appendectomy rate was 8.7% when using CT compared with 16.7% when using clinical evaluation alone (p < 0.001). There was also a significantly lower negative appendectomy rate during the CT era compared with the pre-CT era (10.0% v. 21.5%, p < 0.001). Time to surgery was evaluated in 10 of the 28 studies, 5 of which demonstrated a significant increase in the time to surgery with the use of CT. Appendiceal perforation rates were unchanged by the use of CT (23.4% in the CT group v. 16.7% in the clinical evaluation group, p = 0.15). Similarly, the perforation rate during the CT era was not significantly different than that during the pre-CT era (20.0% v. 19.6%, p = 0.74).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis supports the hypothesis that the use of preoperative abdominal CT is associated with lower negative appendectomy rates. The use of CT in the absence of an expedited imaging protocol may delay surgery, but this delay is not associated with increased appendiceal perforation rates. Routine CT in all patients presenting with suspected appendicitis could reduce the rate of unnecessary surgery without increasing morbidity.     

Rare cause of acute pain in the left upper abdominal quadrant

We report a case of a 45-year-old man with acute pain in the left upper abdominal quadrant. Extensive diagnostic workup remained inconclusive. An exploratory laparotomy revealed herniation of the entire ascending colon, together with a part of the terminal ileum through the foramen of Winslow into the bursa omentalis. The internal hernia was further complicated by a perforated appendicitis within the bursa, explaining the acuteness of the symptoms. Reduction of the hernia, appendectomy and colopexy were performed consequently. This would be the first reported case of a perforated appendicitis within the lesser sack.     

A fertile-aged woman with right lower abdominal pain but unelevated leukocyte count and C-reactive protein

Background and aims: An uninflamed appendix at appendectomy represents a misdiagnosis. In fertile-aged women, the diagnostic accuracy in acute appendicitis is usually lower than 60%. We studied the role of preoperative leukocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in fertile-aged women with a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis. In particular, what is the clinical value of unelevated leukocyte count and CRP in excluding acute appendicitis in these patients? Methods: We calculated the mean leukocyte count and CRP values in (1) 100 consecutive fertile-aged women operated on for a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis but with an uninflamed appendix found at appendectomy, and (2) 100 consecutive fertile-aged women operated on for a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis and acute appendicitis found at appendectomy. The percentages of patients with (1) both values unelevated, (2) only leukocyte count elevated, (3) only CRP value elevated, or (4) both values elevated were calculated within the groups A (uninflamed appendix) and B (acute appendicitis). Results: The mean leukocyte value was significantly (P<0.001) higher in patients with acute appendicitis (13.7×10⁹/l) than in those with an uninflamed appendix (10.6×10⁹/l). Similarly, the mean CRP value was significantly (P<0.05) higher in patients with acute appendicitis (42 mg/l) than in those with an uninflamed appendix(29 mg/l). Taken together, 24 patients were operated on for a clinical suspicion of acute appendicitis, although preoperative leukocyte count and CRP values were unelevated. An uninflamed appendix was found in all these patients at appendectomy. Conclusion: Although clinical symptoms and signs indicated acute appendicitis, unelevated leukocyte count and CRP values excluded it, with a 100% predictive value in the current study of fertile-aged women. In our patients, 24% (24 of 100) of unnecessary appendectomies could have been avoided by trusting in this finding.