Perihepatic abscesses caused by dropped appendicoliths in a child

A recurrent retrohepatic abscess secondary to a dropped appendicolith

Appendicoliths can drop into the peritoneal cavity during the course of an appendicectomy, or more commonly as a result of perforated appendicitis. We report the case of a patient with a history of recurrent retrohepatic abscesses over 7-year period due to a retained appendicolith and review the literature on perihepatic abscesses caused by retained appendicoliths. The abscess had been drained percutaneously 4 times without retrieval of the appendicolith and eventually the patient needed a laparotomy, drainage of the abscess, and extraction of the appendicolith. Treatment of abscesses secondary to dropped appendicoliths may be percutaneous, laparoscopic, or via conventional open surgery, but it is important to retrieve the appendicolith if recurrent abscess formation is to be avoided.

Appendicoliths, the little giants: A narrative review

OBJECTIVES

This narrative review aims to collate the data in the existing literature on appendicoliths, by reviewing the available information on appendicoliths that have been previously reported in 24 publications, and providing the information in one article.

KEY FINDINGS

Appendicoliths are frequent culprits in causing luminal obstruction of the appendix, leading to appendicitis. They are calcified masses formed as a result of the aggregation of faecal particulates and inorganic salts within the lumen of the appendix. The presence of appendicoliths in an inflamed appendix influences the patient's treatment, as surgery is usually done to avoid appendix perforation and abscess formation, and also to prevent a future recurrence of the disease. Appendicoliths are mostly imaged using CT, Ultrasound, and plain X-rays; however, CT is the most frequently used modality, particularly in the imaging of complications caused by 'retained' appendicoliths. 'Retained' appendicoliths and their consequential abscesses have been reported in the sub-hepatic and intrahepatic regions, pelvic and tubo-ovarian regions, gluteal region, subcutaneous layer, subphrenic region, and through the diaphragm into the chest cavity.

CONCLUSION

This review provides useful information on the imaging appearances and complications caused by the presence of appendicoliths in an inflamed appendix, and it also provides information on the clinical implications of 'dropped' appendicoliths during appendectomy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Based on the findings of this review, it is recommended that the appropriate imaging modality (ultrasound and/or CT) should be considered when imaging appendicoliths and its complications. It is also suggested that retained appendicolith be considered a differential diagnosis when imaging patients with a history of appendectomy due to complicated appendicitis/perforation.

Delayed Presentation of a Retained Fecalith

A fecalith is a common cause of acute appendicitis, and laparoscopic surgery is the mainstay of its management. Literature review shows that a fecalith may be retained in the gut following a laparoscopic appendectomy in some rare cases. In most cases, the fecalith becomes symptomatic with time due to the formation of an abscess, fistulous tract, or inflammation of the appendicular stump (stump appendicitis). We report a case of retained appendicular fecalith presenting with symptoms similar to acute appendicitis, 15 years after laparoscopic appendectomy.

Benefits of conservative management of a retained appendicolith after laparoscopic appendectomy: A case series

Introduction

Acute appendicitis is a disease with multifactorial etiology and frequently includes lumen obstruction. Appendicoliths can pose a challenge during the appendectomy procedure if not identified.

Methods

This is a prospective case series at our academic institution involving two medically free patients with intra-abdominal abscess formation secondary to an overlooked appendicolith who were treated conservatively with a follow up period of one year for each patient.

Results

Complications of a retained appendicolith are serious and include intra-abdominal abscess, perihepatic abscess, and delayed wound healing through fistula formation, most surgeons would undergo surgical removal with preoperative localization of the appendicolith using different modalities. In contrast, conservative management is an emerging approach to managing such conditions. The conservative approach involves percutaneous retrieval and the IR-guided draining of an intra-abdominal collection. In our cases, percutaneous drainage and intravenous antibiotics were a successful treatment, with no abscess recurrence in over a year.

Conclusion

We suggest that patients with appendicoliths presenting with appendicitis should undergo appendicolith removal to prevent the risk of recurrent abscess formation. We also consider that the conservative management of patients with appendicoliths presenting with recurrent abdominal pain and abscesses after appendectomy is a better and safer approach than the surgical removal of a dropped appendicolith, as the risks of the surgical procedure complications can be avoided.

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Considering retained appendicolith as a differential diagnosis after appendectomy in patients with postoperative intra-abdominal collections.

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Understanding the role of IR drainage in managing patients with a retained appendicolith.

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Emphasizing the Role of conservative management over Surgical intervention in patients diagnosed with retained appendicolith