Is it time for global adoption of endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy of acute appendicitis?

Acute appendicitis is a common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide. Abraham Groves performed the first documented open appendectomy in 1883. Although appendectomy is still the most effective treatment in cases of acute appendicitis, it causes a range of complications and carries the risk of negative appendectomy. In the awake of covid-19, the latest guidelines recommend antibiotic therapy as an acceptable first line treatment for acute appendicitis. However, patients treated with antibiotics have a recurrence risk of up to 30% at 1 year. Endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy (ERAT) has emerged as promising non-invasive treatment modality for acute uncomplicated appendicitis (AUA) which involves cannulation, appedicography, appendiceal stone extraction, appendiceal lumen irrigation, and stent insertion. ERAT aims to relieve the cause of appendicitis (e.g., obstruction or stenosis of the appendiceal lumen) and thus effectively prevent the recurrence of appendicitis. In addition, it can make a definitive diagnosis of acute appendicitis during endoscopic retrograde appendicography. Studies have shown that 93.8 to 95% of AUA patients did not have a recurrence following ERAT. In this study, we aim to summarize the current body of evidence on ERAT to situate it alongside currently established therapies for acute appendicitis, in particular, AUA.     

What is the optimal treatment for appendiceal mass formed after acute perforated appendicitis

We read with great interest the editorial article by Meshikhes AWN published in issue 25 of World J Gastroenterol 2011. The article described the advantages of emergency laparoscopic appendectomy compared with interval appendectomy as a new safe treatment modality for the appendiceal mass. The author concluded that the emergency laparoscopic appendectomy was a safe treatment modality for the appendiceal mass, and might prove to be more cost-effective than conservative treatment, with no need for interval appendectomy. However, we would like to highlight certain issues regarding the possibility of percutaneous catheter drainage to successfully treat the appendiceal mass, with no need for appendectomy, too.     

The role of colonoscopy in the diagnosis of appendicitis in patients with atypical presentations

BACKGROUND: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of acute abdomen. Despite recent advances in radiologic imaging, the diagnosis of acute appendicitis may be difficult on occasion. The aims of this study were to describe the colonoscopic features of appendicitis and to determine whether colonoscopy can be used as an adjunct for the diagnosis of appendicitis in patients with atypical presentations. METHODS: The colonoscopic findings in 21 patients (14 men, 7 women; average age 55 years) with a colonoscopic or histopathologic diagnosis of appendicitis were analyzed retrospectively. Colonoscopy was performed because diagnoses suggested by CT were other than acute appendicitis (11 patients), and/or the presenting clinical features were atypical for acute appendicitis with the duration of symptoms being 10 days or longer (17 patients). RESULTS: The colonoscopic diagnosis was acute appendicitis for all 21 patients. Seventeen underwent appendectomy, the diagnosis being verified in all cases. Of the 4 patients whose symptoms improved without appendectomy, 3 were considered to have acute appendicitis because pus was seen to drain from the appendiceal orifice at colonoscopy. A definite diagnosis could not be made in the remaining 1 patient. Therefore, the diagnosis of appendicitis was considered confirmed in 20 of 21 patients. Colonoscopic findings in these 20 patients included hyperemia (15) and bulging (18) at the appendiceal orifice area with surrounding mucosal edema (19), and drainage of pus from the appendiceal orifice (7). CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy may be useful in the diagnosis of appendicitis when the clinical presentation is atypical for appendicitis and/or imaging studies are nondiagnostic.     

Appendiceal mass： Is interval appendicectomy ＂something of the past＂？

The need for interval appendicectomy (I.A) after successful conservative management of appendiceal mass has recently been questioned.Furthermore,emergency appendicectomy for appendiceal mass is increasingly performed with equal success and safety to that performed in non-mass forming acute appendicitis.There is an increasing volume of evidence-although mostly retrospective-that if traditional conservative management is adopted,there is no need for routine I.A except for a small number of patients who contin...     

Medical management of spinal epidural abscesses: case report and review.

Although the traditional management of spinal epidural abscesses includes antibiotic therapy and surgical drainage, numerous reports have appeared in the literature that describe a nonsurgical approach. We report the successful nonsurgical management of a case of an extensive spinal epidural abscess in which the patient was closely monitored by serial studies with magnetic resonance imaging. Review of the literature from 1970 to 1990 revealed 37 cases that describe conservative management of spinal epidural abscesses. Despite successful conservative management reported for some cases, sudden neurological deterioration of patients receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy has also occurred. A true index of the success of nonsurgical therapy is difficult to discern since cases may have been selectively reported and unsuccessful attempts at conservative management may have never been reported once a laminectomy was performed. A prospective investigation that includes clearly defined indications for conservative management vs. surgical intervention and that can be studied with an intention-to-treat analysis is needed.     

内镜逆行阑尾炎治疗术对不典型急性阑尾炎的诊断与治疗价值

目的 探讨内镜逆行阑尾炎治疗术（ERAT）对不典型急性阑尾炎的诊断与治疗价值。方法 2015年1月至2016年12月于江苏省人民医院就诊的所有疑诊为不典型急性阑尾炎的48例患者,按照治疗方法不同分为ERAT组和保守治疗组,比较两组患者最终阑尾切除率。结果 因病情复杂或个人意愿等原因,ERAT组的24例患者中仅17例接受了内镜下治疗,其中16例被诊断为急性阑尾炎,经ERAT治疗后5例因疾病复发行外科阑尾切除,切除率31.3%（5/16）;保守治疗组的24例患者均接受抗生素治疗,20例因再发阑尾炎行外科阑尾切除,其中1例出现阑尾穿孔,切除率83.3%（20/24）。ERAT组的外科切除率较保守治疗组低（?2=11.111,P<0.05）。结论 ERAT对不典型急性阑尾炎具有较高的诊断与治疗价值。     

Treatment of appendiceal mass: prospective, randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Appendiceal mass may be treated in several ways. However, no randomized trial has been conducted to find the best option. OBJECTIVE: To compare the three most commonly used methods for treating appendiceal mass. METHODS: Over a three-year period, 60 consecutive patients with appendiceal mass were randomly allocated to three groups: Group A--initial conservative treatment followed by interval appendectomy six weeks later; Group B--appendectomy as soon as appendiceal mass resolved using conservative means; Group C--conservative treatment alone. Short-term outcome measures included operative time, operative difficulty, postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, and duration of time away from work. Long-term outcome measures were: number of hospital visits made, presence of severe incisional pain, scar appearance, and patients with recurrent appendicitis. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable in the three groups. In patients in Group A, operative time was less, adhesions were encountered less frequently, the incision had to be extended less often and post-operative complications were fewer, as compared to Group B. Patients in Group C had the shortest hospital stay and duration of work-days lost; only 2 of 20 patients in this group developed recurrent appendicitis during a follow-up period of 24-52 (median 33.5) months. CONCLUSION: Of the three treatment modalities compared, conservative treatment without subsequent appendectomy appears to be the best.     

Stump appendicitis is a rare delayed complication of appendectomy： A case report

INTRODUCTIONStump appendicitis is an acute in? ammation of the residual appendix and a rare complication after appendectomy[1]. Although the signs and symptoms do not differ from those of acute appendicitis, the diagnosis is often not considered because o…     

Ascending retrocecal appendicitis presenting with right upper abdominal pain： Utility of computed tomography

Acute appendicitis is a common surgical condition that is usually managed with early surgery, and is associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, some patients may have atypical symptoms and physical findings that may lead to a delay in diagnosis and increased complications. Atypical presentation may be related to the position of the appendix. Ascending retrocecal appendicitis presenting with right upper abdominal pain may be clinically indistinguishable from acute pathology in the gallbladder, liver, biliaw tree, right kidney and right urinary tract. We report a series of four patients with retrocecal appendicitis who presented with acute right upper abdominal pain. The clinical diagnoses at presentation were acute cholecystitis in two patients, pyelonephritis in one, and ureteric colic in one. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen at presentation showed subhepatic collections in two patients and normal findings in the other two. Computed tomography （CT） identified correctly retrocecal appendicitis and inflammation in the retroperitoneum in all cases. In addition, abscesses in the retrocecal space （n = 2） and subhepatic collections （n = 2） were also demonstrated. Emergency appendectomy was performed in two patients, interval appendectomy in one, and hemicolectomy in another. Surgical findings confirmed the presence of appendicitis and its retroperitoneal extensions. Our case series illustrates the usefulness of CT in diagnosing ascending retrocecal appendicitis and its extension, and excluding other in- fiammatory conditions that mimic appendicitis.     

Outcomes of Antibiotic Therapy for Uncomplicated Appendicitis in Pregnancy

Objective

The aim of the present study is to determine the feasibility and safety of antibiotics for uncomplicated simple appendicitis in pregnancy.

Clinical infections and nonsurgical treatment of parapharyngeal space infections complicating throat infection

The clinical features and management of eight patients with parapharyngeal space infection who presented with swelling of the neck subsequent to sore throat are described. In four patients the interval between the initial throat symptoms and swelling was 2 days or less, and the disease was rapidly progressive with stridor or a descending mediastinitis. In the other four cases, this interval was longer (4 to 14 days) and the infection was fairly localized. Computed tomography was useful for making the diagnosis, establishing that the infection had spread into other deep neck spaces and the mediastinum, distinguishing abscesses from diffuse cellulitis, guiding drainage aspiration, and assessing the response to therapy. None of the patients underwent extensive surgical drainage of the deep neck spaces. A nonsurgical approach with antibiotics, including high doses of benzylpenicillin, and computed tomography-guided selective needle aspirations proved successful. Even patients with distinct abscesses were completely cured.     

Diverticula of the vermiform appendix

The vermiform appendix can be the site of development of diverticula which may suffer either inflammatory complications with or without appendicitis or may only be an incidental finding in an uninflamed appendix. This is a retrospective study of 10 of 575 cases of consecutive appendices removed and examined within a year, with single or multiple appendiceal diverticula with diverticulitis and peridiverticulitis. In six of the 10, the lumen of the appendix did not show any inflammatory changes. In conclusion, one could assume that inflammatory complications of the appendiceal diverticula, although they may mimic acute appendicitis, are quite distinct clinical entities. Acute appendicitis in the presence of appendiceal diverticula may carry an earlier and higher rate of perforation and appendiceal diverticula, as an incidental finding, may justify appendectomy on occasion.     

A case of stump appendicitis after appendectomy]

Stump appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the residual appendix and a rare complication after an appendectomy. Although the signs and symptoms do not differ from acute appendicitis, the diagnosis is often not considered because of the past surgical history. Only a small number of stump appendicitis cases have been reported, but there has been no report of stump appendicitis in Korea. Herein, we report a case of stump appendicitis. A 28-year-old female was admitted to our hospital due to right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Fifteen months ago, the patient had a laparoscopic appendectomy under the diagnosis of an acute appendicitis, but she subsequently suffered from intermittent abdominal pain and fever. Abdominal ultrasonography and CT scan showed an inflamed appendiceal stump. Laparoscopic stump appendectomy was done and the biopsy revealed stump appendicitis.     

Appendicitis following esophagogastroduodenal study: report of a case

Retention of barium within appendix following a gastrointestinal tract study may predispose in rare instances to narrowing of appendiceal lumen, thus contributing to development of acute appendicitis. We present the case of a 42-year-old woman in whom this sequence of events was recognized who presented with clinical signs of acute appendicitis 9 days after barium swallow test was performed. Patients must be informed increased chance for development of appendicitis in these cases and be instructed to recognize early symptoms. Surgical treatment is reserved for symptomatic patients and prophylactic appendectomy is not reccommended.     

Percutaneous drainage of appendiceal abscess

Twenty-seven consecutive patients with ultrasonically verified appendiceal abscesses, measuring from 2 to 10 cm in diameter, were studied. Ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage was performed in 19 by means of one to five punctures, and in eight with one or two catheters. In 16 and 7 patients, respectively, the abscesses resolved without further intervention. Four patients were operated on, two for suspected (but unverified) abscess perforation, one for bowel obstruction, and one because of failed drainage, resulting in a success rate of 85 percent. Hospitalization ranged from 3 to 23 days; however, normal sonograms were not obtained until after nine to 62 days. Follow-up revealed no diagnostic errors. Two patients (8 percent) had recurrent appendicitis, and late sequelae were observed in four patients, three of these after surgery. Ultrasonically guided percutaneous drainage of appendiceal abscesses with the technique described is indicated whenever feasible, as a safe, gentle, and relatively atraumatic procedure with few complications and late sequelae.     

Right adrenal abscess -- an unusual complication of acute apendicitis

Acute appendicitis represents one of the most frequent abdominal emergencies encountered in everyday surgical practice. Local infectious complications are not unusual and retroperitoneal abscesses after acute retrocaecal appendicitis have been previously described. The authors present the case of a 22-years-young female patient, admitted for a right iliac fossa abscess, secondary to gangrenous appendicitis. A right adrenal mass 35/40 mm was revealed during preoperative ultrasound evaluation, which evolved in an adrenal abscess that spontaneously drained 10 days after appendectomy and retrocecal drainage. Adrenal abscesses are exceptionally rare, with only a few cases being reported in the literature, but none of these after acute appendicitis.     

Diverticula in the vermiform appendix

A case of multiple appendiceal diverticula seen by barium enema is reported. Five diverticula were clearly demonstrated. The patient was asymptomatic. Most diverticula of the appendix have been found at laparotomy for complicated appendicitis. We believe that prophylactic appendectomy should be performed to prevent complications.     

Treatment of perianal fistula and abscess: Crohn’s and non-Crohn’s

Opinion statement The management of perianal abscesses and fistulas is relatively straightforward in most cases and based on a sound knowledge of the anatomy of the anorectum and adherence to established medical and surgical principles. Asymptomatic fistulas should not be treated, whereas abscesses require surgical drainage under general anesthesia. Fistula treatment includes drainage of any associated sepsis and eradication of the fistula track to prevent recurrence while preserving sphincter integrity. A small percentage of anal abscesses and fistulas are complex and very challenging to manage, particularly in conditions such as rectovaginal fistulas and abscesses and/or fistulas complicating Crohn’s disease. Treatment strategies in these situations rely on an accurate clinical assessment of the degree of rectal inflammation and perianal pathology. Treatment should combine aggressive medical therapy (antibiotics, immunomodulators, and anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody treatment) and minimal surgical interventions. Patients with proctitis have a significantly lower healing rate and a significantly higher complication rate with aggressive surgical interventions.     

Application of videolaparoscopy methods in the diagnostics and treatment of acute appendicitis]

The article describes an experience of the diagnostics and treatment of 550 patients who were hospitalized with acute appendicitis. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed for 200 patients with acute appendicitis as a presumptive diagnosis. 350 patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. It was possible to avoid ineffective laparotomy in the course of diagnostic laparoscopy in 88% of patients with unclear symptoms of acute appendicitis, and to establish other acute diseases of the abdominal cavity in 12% of cases. Laparoscopic appendectomy can be performed practically at any form of appendix inflammation. It is better to carry out laparoscopic appendectomy using the clip method, and to treat the mesoappendix by monocoagulation.     

Recurrent acute appendicitis with erythema annulare centrifugum

Erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC), a chronic figurate eruption, occurred in a 28-year-old male physician several months following the onset of recurrent abdominal pain. Two months after the manifestation of EAC, another episode of abdominal pain culminated in appendectomy for perforated appendicitis. During his convalescence, the skin lesions faded and did not reappear. We propose that recurrent appendiceal inflammation caused both the episodic pain and the skin eruptions. Additionally EAC may be a sign of chronic infection, internal malignancy, or food allergy. Although truly chronic appendicitis is a disputed entity, recurrent, spontaneously resolving episodes of appendicitis occasionally do precede surgical appendicitis. The presence of EAC in a patient having recurrent abdominal pain should discourage a precipitant diagnosis of functional illness and prompt further investigation.