Stump appendicitis diagnosed preoperatively by computed tomography

Recurrent appendicitis of vermiform appendix after a prior appendectomy: A case report and review of the literature

Introduction

Acute appendicitis is one of the leading causes of acute abdominal pain and surgical emergency. Stump appendicitis is a known complication of appendectomy whereby a retained appendiceal tip serves as a nidus for recurrent bouts of inflammation. Nevertheless, full-blown appendicitis of the vermiform appendix after a prior appendectomy remains a diagnostic conundrum.

Case presentation

A 45-year-old woman presented with a six-month history of right iliac fossa pain. Pertinently, she had undergone a prior open appendectomy twelve years ago. Further investigative workup revealed full-blown appendicitis, which was not attributable to a retained appendiceal stump. A subsequent laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, and the resultant specimen was sent for further evaluation, confirming the diagnosis of recurrent appendicitis.

Clinical discussion

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common life-threatening abdominal surgical emergencies worldwide, with 300000 appendectomies performed annually in the United States alone. Stump and chronic appendicitis are two separate and exceedingly rare clinical entities that may present simultaneously and develop serious complications unless promptly recognized and appropriately managed. The present paper prompts the clinicians to distinguish amongst the two at the initial surgery in order to thwart further exacerbations.

Conclusion

While stump appendicitis is a rare but well-characterized complication of a prior appendectomy, full-blown appendicitis of vermiform appendix remains elusive. It is therefore imperative to distinguish between a duplicated and a recurrent appendix at the initial operative procedure to facilitate optimal patient management.

Stump appendicitis after laparoscopic appendectomy; laparoscopic management and literature review

Introduction

Appendectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide There are different etiologies for acute appendicitis such as obstruction of the appendiceal lumen by fecalith, lymphoid hyperplasia, or neoplasm.

Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the treatment of choice for both complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis; common postoperative complications include wound infection, bleeding, intraabdominal abscess.

Stump appendicitis is defined as the interval repeated inflammation of remaining residual appendiceal tissue after an appendectomy.

Presentation of case

38-Year-old female patient with a history of laparoscopic appendectomy performed in 2016 for acute uncomplicated appendicitis.

She arrived to the emergency room due to abdominal pain 7 out of 10, located in the periumbilical region, later with migration to the right lower quadrant, abdominal CT scan evidenced the presence of a cecal and pericecal inflammatory process as well as the base and residual proximal portion of the cecal appendix laparoscopic stump appendectomy was performed.

Discussion

Stump appendicitis (SA) is defined as the inflammation of the remnant of the cecal appendix after an appendectomy, whether due to impaction of a fecalith or secondary to an ischemic process, the probability of developing SA is estimated to be about 1/50,000 cases throughout life.

The most frequently used treatment is exploratory laparotomy to complete the previous appendectomy; however, there are 5 reported cases of stump appendicitis, where surgical resolution was performed through laparoscopic surgery.

Conclusions

It is important to keep this entity in mind when evaluating a patient with acute abdomen with previous history of appendectomy, since the delay in diagnosis and treatment increases morbidity and mortality; laparoscopic stump appendectomy has been shown to be a safe treatment (Agha et al., 2020 [14]).1

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Stump appendicitis (SA) is defined as the inflammation of the remnant of the cecal appendix after an appendectomy.

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Delay in diagnosis and treatment increases morbidity and mortality

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Laparoscopic stump appendectomy has been shown to be a safe alternative.

High-volume center analysis and systematic review of stump appendicitis: solving the pending issue

PURPOSE

Stump appendicitis (SA) is a rare long-term complication after laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) that can be associated with high morbidity due to delayed diagnosis. We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, diagnosis, and management of SA by reviewing our large cohort of LA and performing a systematic review of the literature.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed data of all patients who developed SA after LA between 2006 and 2020. Demographics, peri-operative variables, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. A systematic review of the PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and GoogleScholar bibliographic databases was also performed to identify publications regarding SA following LA.

RESULTS

A total of 2,019 patients underwent LA; 5 (0.25%) developed SA after a median of 292 days. The most common symptom at presentation was right lower quadrant pain. Four SA (80%) occurred in patients with a history of complicated appendicitis at index operation. All patients were diagnosed with computed tomography and underwent completion stump appendectomy by laparoscopy. No postoperative complications were recorded. A total of 55 studies with 76 cases of SA after LA were identified in the systematic review. Most SA (98.7%) underwent surgery: 52% by laparoscopic approach and 36% through an open approach. Stump appendectomy was performed in 94.4% cases and an extended resection in 5.6%.

CONCLUSION

Although SA is a rare complication after LA, a high index of clinical suspicious and imaging studies are key for early diagnosis and treatment. A laparoscopic resection of the inflamed appendiceal stump is feasible, safe, and highly effective. A minority of patients with severe cecum compromise may need extended resections or conversion to open surgery.

Stump Appendicitis: Clinical and CT Findings

OBJECTIVE. Recurrent inflammation of the appendiceal stump after appendectomy is rare; published case series have included no more than six patients. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and CT findings in a larger original series. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A combined PACS and electronic medical record search identified the cases of 14 patients (nine men, five women; mean age, 42.8 years) with a confident diagnosis of stump appendicitis evaluated at CT. In seven cases, CT images obtained at the initial presentation of appendicitis were available for review. Relevant clinical and CT findings were reviewed by three abdominal radiologists in consensus. RESULTS. The mean time interval between initial appendectomy and stump appendicitis was 5.1 years (range, 5 weeks-17.5 years); seven cases occurred within 1 year of appendectomy. Ten (71%) of initial appendectomies were performed by a laparoscopic approach. CT showed the mean appendiceal stump length was 3.2 cm (range, 1.3-7.0 cm); residual stump length measured 2 cm or longer in all but one case. Appendicoliths were identified at the stump in seven (50%) cases; the mean diameter was 0.9 cm and mean maximal attenuation, 247 HU. Extensive inflammatory changes surrounded the appendiceal stump at CT in all cases, including peristump abscess in four (29%) cases. Seven of the 14 patients (50%) went on to open surgical management with either remnant appendectomy or partial ileocecectomy. CONCLUSION. Stump appendicitis has a characteristic CT appearance and may occur within the first year after appendectomy or many years later. A long (≥ 2 cm) appendiceal stump from laparoscopic appendectomy and retained appendicolith may predispose adult patients to recurrent obstruction and inflammation.

Point-of-care ultrasound diagnosis of stump appendicitis in the emergency department

Background

Stump appendicitis (SA) is a rare entity in patients with a history of appendectomy and may result in missed or delayed diagnosis. We report a case of SA diagnosed by emergency department (ED) point-of-care ultrasound (PoCUS) in an elderly woman, thus expediting her care.

Case presentation

An elderly female patient with a history of appendectomy 27 years ago was referred by her physician to the ED with right lower quadrant pain for 2 days. Using PoCUS the emergency physician identified SA. This was confirmed by computed tomography (CT) scan. The patient was then successfully managed non-operatively using antibiotics.

Conclusions

Despite its rarity, it is feasible to diagnose SA using PoCUS, as patients presenting with right lower quadrant pain and history of appendectomy are at risk for delayed diagnosis, perforation, and poor outcome. PoCUS may reduce time to diagnosis, time to definitive operative or non-operative management, and minimize morbidity.

Stump appendicitis: a retrospective review of 3130 consecutive appendectomy cases

Background

Stump appendicitis is inflammation of remnant appendix tissue due to incomplete removal of the appendix. Due to appendectomy history, stump appendicitis diagnosis is usually delay and that can cause increase morbidity.

Methods

Medical records of patients who had surgery for acute appendicitis at a single center from 2008 to 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. During the evaluation of medical records, patients that had a previous operation for acute appendicitis or had "stump appendicitis" as an exploratory finding in operation notes were included.

Results

Appendectomy was performed in 3130 patients (2630 open surgeries and 380 laparoscopic surgeries). Stump appendicitis was diagnosed in five patients (0.15%). The appendectomies had been performed 4, 5, 7, 7, and 11 years previously. Mean time taken for surgery was 36 h after symptoms began. Open surgery was performed in three patients, laparoscopic procedures in others.

Conclusion

Awareness of stump appendicitis before radiological examinations may facilitate accurate diagnosis and decrease the duration of the decision-making process, leading to decreased morbidity.

Stump appendicitis: preoperative imaging findings in four cases

Appendiceal stump appendicitis is a rare entity caused by inflammation of the appendiceal remnant after incomplete appendectomy. We describe four patients with inflammations of the appendiceal stump, which were preoperatively diagnosed using ultrasonography and/or multidetector computed tomography. Stump appendicitis is a complication that should be taken into consideration when patients with a history of appendectomy present with right lower quadrant pain. Imaging techniques play a key role in the diagnosis.

Stump appendicitis. A diagnostic trap

Stump appendicitis is an underestimated condition and a diagnostic trap that few surgeons think about when faced against localized pain in the lower-right abdomen. Misdiagnosis and therefore delay of the appropriate treatment results in increased morbidity. We report the case of a patient who presented a 7-day history of right iliac fossa abdominal pain. She had undergone open appendectomy in childhood. Stump appendicitis was not diagnosed immediately despite imaging (CT and MRI) and exploratory laparoscopy. In conclusion, surgeons and gastroenterologists need a heightened awareness of the possibility of stump appendicitis.

Stump appendicitis: a relatively under-reported reality

Stump appendicitis (SA) is a rare and under-reported complication of open as well as laparoscopic appendicectomy. Diagnosis of SA is often delayed and requires a high index of suspicion in those presenting with signs and symptoms of appendicitis and a history of appendicectomy.We presented a case of SA in a 20-year-old man with a history of open appendicectomy. He was managed conservatively using intravenous antibiotics. The risk of SA is influenced by surgical technique; however, it is unclear whether the incidence is higher with laparoscopic or open procedures. There is little evidence guiding the management of SA with the majority of reported cases treated operatively. This diagnosis should be suspected on the basis of history and examination and CT scanning is a useful tool in most adult cases aiding diagnosis. Management may be guided by the progression of the patient's symptoms either towards operative intervention or a conservative approach.

Stump appendicitis: a review

Acute appendicitis is perhaps the commonest cause of acute abdomen and surgical intervention in the form of open or laparoscopic appendicectomy. Stump appendicitis is an uncommon late complication of appendicectomy; where inflammation occurs in the remaining appendicular stump. Delayed diagnosis of this condition may result in serious complications. This literature review has looked into the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of Stump appendicitis.

Inflammation of the residual appendix stump: a systematic review

AIM

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to examine reported cases of stump appendicitis (SA) to determine the relationship between SA and the original operative strategy (open vs laparoscopic), and to evaluate the clinical features and diagnosis.

METHOD

A Pub-med search was conducted to identify cases of appendicitis of a residual stump following appendicectomy. Two original cases of SA following laparoscopic appendicectomy treated in our own hospitals are also included in the analysis. Sixty cases of SA reported in the English medical literature were analysed.

RESULTS

The interval from the original appendicectomy ranged from 4 days to 50 years. SA followed appendicectomy in 58% of open and 31.6% of laparoscopic procedures. SA was frequently misdiagnosed as constipation or gastroenteritis, with a significant delay to surgery. Computerized tomography diagnosed SA in 46.6% of cases. Perforation with gangrene of the stump occurred in 40%.

CONCLUSION

Stump appendicitis is rare. It may complicate open or laparoscopic appendicectomy. A high level of suspicion should be maintained in any patient with right sided abdominal pain and a history of prior appendicectomy.

A 60-year literature review of stump appendicitis: the need for a critical view

BACKGROUND

Stump appendicitis is an underreported and poorly defined condition. It is the development of obstruction and inflammation of the residual appendix after appendectomy. This is a review of the basic clinical, pathological, and surgical significance of stump appendicitis, and the "critical view" required for prevention.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed MEDLINE search was performed using terms "stump appendicitis" and "retained appendix" to obtain reported cases of stump appendicitis. Sixty-one cases were identified. Each case was charted based on 14 variables. Data were analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Stump appendicitis warrants early detection. Patients can present with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. A prior history of appendectomy can delay the diagnosis. A diagnosis can be made with an abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography scan. If treated early, laparoscopic or open completion appendectomy can be performed. If diagnosis is delayed and perforation is found, extensive resection is often required. A "critical view," as described in this article, is key for prevention.

Stump appendicitis: a surgeon's dilemma

BACKGROUND

Stump appendicitis is defined by the recurrent inflammation of the residual appendix after the appendix has been only partially removed during an appendectomy for appendicitis. Forty-eight cases of stump appendicitis were identified in the English literature.

DATABASE

The institutional CPT codes were evaluated for multiple hits of the appendectomy code, yielding a total of 3 patients. After appropriate approval from an internal review board, a retrospective chart review was completed and all available data extracted. All 3 patients were diagnosed with stump appendicitis, ranging from 2 months to 20 years after the initial procedure. Two patients underwent a laparoscopic and the one an open completion appendectomy. All patients did well and were discharged home in good condition.

CONCLUSION

Surgeons need a heightened awareness of the possibility of stump appendicitis. Correct identification and removal of the appendiceal base without leaving an appendiceal stump minimizes the risk of stump appendicitis. If a CT scan has been obtained, it enables exquisite delineation of the surrounding anatomy, including the length of the appendiceal remnant. Thus, we propose that unless there are other mitigating circumstances, the completion appendectomy in cases of stump appendicitis should also be performed laparoscopically guided by the CT findings.

A stump appendicitis in a child: a case report

Background

Stump appendicitis is a delayed complication of appendectomy. It is rare and few cases reported in the paediatric literature. The authors report on another case in a child and focus on the diagnostic peculiarities of this entity.

Case

A 9-year-old boy with previous history of open appendectomy was admitted for a right lower quadrant pain with bilious vomiting and fever. Physical examination demonstrated tenderness in the right lower quadrant and guarding over the appendectomy scar. The white blood cell count was 23.500 cells/mm³. Plain abdominal radiograph and ultrasonography revealed fecalith localized in the right iliac fossa. The diagnosis of stump appendicitis was advocated and confirmed at laparotomy. A gangrenous and perforated appendiceal stump was found and completely removed. The post-operative course was uneventful after 18 months follow-up period.

Conclusion

Stump appendicitis is rare and should be considered in any patient with right lower quadrant pain even if there is a history of appendectomy. Complete removal of the appendix is the only mean to prevent the occurrence of this complication.

Prompt recognition of stump appendicitis is important to avoid serious complications: a case report

Introduction

Stump appendicitis is a rare complication of appendectomy due to recurrent inflammation of the residual appendix. The diagnosis is often delayed due to low index of suspicious, which may result in serious complications.

Case presentation

We describe a case of stump appendicitis occurred 12 months after appendectomy in 25 years old man. Despite past medical history of appendectomy the diagnosis was made by means of ultrasound scan and an high degree of clinical suspicion.

Conclusions

Stump appendicitis is a rare but important complication of appendectomy, often misdiagnosed. Prompt recognition is important to avoid serious complications. This pathologic entity should always be kept in mind on case of right lower quadrant pain.

[Right-sided lower abdominal pain after appendectomy?]

A young male patient presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain 3 years after laparoscopic appendectomy. Clinical and radiological findings were in keeping with acute appendicitis and the diagnosis of stump appendicitis could be confirmed by laparoscopy. This case serves as a reminder of this differential diagnosis and to discuss therapy and prevention of this rare condition.

Successfully treated stump appendicitis diagnosed by CT and ultrasonography

Although rare, inflammation of the appendiceal stump can occur and is still an important clinical entity. There has been a recent increase in interest in stump appendicitis. In this study a case of right lower quadrant pain in an 18-year-old man who underwent an appendicectomy 7 months previously is presented. Recurrent appendicitis was noted in an appendiceal stump during surgery which previously diagnosed by CT and ultrasonography.

MR imaging of acute right lower quadrant pain in pregnant and nonpregnant patients

The use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of acute abdominal pain is increasing, particularly in those circumstances where computed tomography (CT) is not desirable (eg, pregnancy, allergy to iodinated contrast material). Although ultrasonography (US) is considered the imaging study of choice for evaluation of abdominal pain in pregnant patients, MR imaging is a valuable adjunct to US in evaluation of pregnant patients with acute right lower quadrant (RLQ) pain who have inconclusive US results. MR imaging is also frequently used in patients with renal failure, in whom the use of iodinated contrast material is contraindicated, as well as in cases where CT results are inconclusive. In patients with acute RLQ pain, the breadth of abnormalities visible at MR imaging is very broad, with pathologic conditions potentially originating from multiple organ systems, but most commonly from the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems. MR imaging is an excellent imaging modality for evaluation of RLQ pain and should be strongly considered in those patients in whom use of iodinated contrast media or radiation is not desirable.

[Preoperative diagnostic imaging in stump appendicitis]

Stump appendicitis is a rare condition in which the diagnosis is often delayed and is eventually reached during exploratory surgery. Knowledge of stump appendicitis makes it possible to reach the diagnosis using imaging techniques and thereby reduce the morbidity of this condition. We present the case of a patient with appendicitis of the appendicular stump that was diagnosed prior to surgery using plain-film radiography and abdominal CT.

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

Stump appendicitis is an acute inflammation of the residual appendix and one of the rare complications after appendectomy. Paying attention to the possibility of stump appendicitis in patients with right lower abdominal pain after appendectomy can prevent the delay of diagnosis and treatment. In patients with stump appendicitis, CT scan not only assists in making an accurate preoperative diagnosis but also excludes other etiologies. We report a 47-year old man with preoperatively diagnosed stump appendicitis by CT, who underwent an open appendectomy 20 years ago.

Stump Appendicitis: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

Appendectomy for appendicitis is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States. Residual tissue left after an initial appendectomy risks the development of stump appendicitis. A comprehensive review of the English-language literature revealed 36 reported cases of stump appendicitis. Typically, patients present with signs and symptoms similar to acute appendicitis; however, due to prior surgery, the diagnosis is difficult and the rate of appendiceal stump perforation is extremely high. Herein, we present a case of a 32-year-old female presenting with right lower quadrant pain, nausea, and fever 5 months after laparoscopic appendectomy. Upon surgery, an appendiceal stump was discovered.

Acute appendicitis of the appendiceal stump

We report a case of a 27-year-old man, status post open appendectomy as an infant, in whom the diagnosis of acute appendicitis of the appendiceal stump was made by computed tomography (CT). A coronal reformatted CT image demonstrated both the inflamed appendix and a normal terminal ileum. Although rare, stump appendicitis may present with signs and symptoms typical of acute appendicitis in patients status post appendectomy and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Stump appendicitis: case report and review

The purpose of this study is to review the medical literature regarding the prevalence of appendicitis in patients with previous appendectomy. Stump appendicitis is a real entity not often considered when evaluating patients with right lower quadrant pain and a history of appendectomy. This leads to delays in diagnosis and treatment. An extensive review of the world literature using Medline, MD Consult, and the references of articles found using these methods to gather information regarding stump appendicitis. Results showed 29 cases of stump appendicitis have been reported in the world literature. Herein we review the literature as well as present a case study. Stump appendicitis is a real, yet probably underreported entity. It can occur after either laparoscopic or open appendectomy. Avoidance of a long appendiceal stump is the only suggested means by which to avoid its occurrence.

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.