Atypical Presentation of Acute Appendicitis: A 32-year-old Man with Gastroenteritis Symptoms; an Educational Case
Journal Title: Advanced Journal of Emergency Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 2, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Appendicitis is a common condition that almost always requires emergency surgery. The diagnosis is clear when the patient presents with classic symptoms. However, presentation may be variable due to variations in the position and length of the appendix. Case presentation: Here, we report a 32-year-old man who presented with diarrhea and lower abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed a generalized abdominal tenderness, more prominent in the lower abdomen, including the right and left quadrants. Abdominal ultrasound failed to show any findings supportive of the diagnosis of appendicitis. Further investigation with abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) with intravenous and oral contrast revealed retrocecal appendicitis. The patient was discharged home after a non-complicated appendectomy. Conclusion: Emergency physicians should be aware that appendicitis may not always show up with a typical presentation and they should consider the possibility of appendicitis when evaluating an acute abdomen to prevent any delay in diagnosis of atypical presentations.
Authors and Affiliations
Seyedhossein Seyedhosseini-Davarani, Atousa Akhgar
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP378215
- DOI 10.22114/ajem.v0i0.32
- Views 127
- Downloads 0
An Epidemiologic Study on Emergency Department Mortality
Introduction: Epidemiologic evaluation generally starts with recording the raw data regarding mortality, and healthcare managers should have a national plan executed for this purpose. Objective: The present study was pl...
Good Interdepartmental Relationships: The Foundations of a Solid Emergency Department
“No man is an island” said the English poet, John Donne, and nowhere can that statement be better appreciated than in a modern emergency department (ED). As emergency physicians, we work in the setting of a close knit te...
A 24-year-old Female Traumatic Patient Following a Car Accident
A healthy 24-year-old female presented at the emergency department (ED) after a car accident with ambulance while injured severely after the bus got run over her lower limb. As the trauma team was activated, her primary...
Radial Head Subluxation: Possible Effective Factors on Time to Re-use the Affected Limb
Introduction: Radial head subluxation (RHS) is a common disorder in children. Although it is not accompanied by any important short- or long-term sequel, it could make the parents worried about. Objective: The purpose of...
A 10-year-old Male with Osteogenesis Imperfecta; Zebra Lines
Case presentation: A 10-year-old male who was a known case of osteogenesis imperfecta was referred to our clinic for follow up. He had osteogenesis imperfecta since birth with multiple fractures. He was treated with pami...