Neonatal and Infant Appendicitis

Neonatal appendicitis is a rare disease with a high mortality rate. Appendicitis is difficult to diagnose in neonatal and infant populations because it mimics other more common conditions in these age groups. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of appendicitis are often nonspecific in nonverbal patients and a high index of suspicion is necessary to initiate the appropriate diagnostic work-up. The keys to successful management of appendicitis in infants include keeping the diagnosis on the differential in the setting of unexplained intra-abdominal sepsis, following a diagnostic algorithm in the work-up of infant abdominal pathology, and performing appendectomy once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Neonatal periappendicular abscess--updated treatment

The authors present a case of periappendicular abscess in a 5-day-old full-term neonate. Prompt diagnosis enabled us to deliver conservative treatment followed by interval laparoscopic appendectomy, instead of a risky urgent laparotomy. This is the first description of an advanced imaging-guided drainage procedure, followed by minimal invasive surgery, for the treatment of periappendicular abscess at such a young age.

Acute appendicitis in a premature baby

A case of acute appendicitis in a premature baby in whom diagnosis was suggested on plain films of the abdomen is presented. In this baby air in a hollow viscus suspected of being an enlarged appendix was the clue to diagnosis. The diagnostic dilemma of this rare and life-threatening condition in premature babies and newborns is underlined. The relevance of different imaging modalities and of different findings in this age group is discussed. Awareness of this rare condition and possible differential diagnosis in newborns and premature babies is stressed.

Prenatal appendiceal perforation: a case report

A neonate is reported with the meconium cyst form of meconium peritonitis secondary to appendiceal perforation, which occurred prior to birth.