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 107
- Downloads 0
Correlation of Patients’ Baseline Characteristics with Success Rate of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; a Cross-Sectional Study
Introduction: Many advances have been made in method, applied medications and the skill of the treatment staff for performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), yet the rate of mortality following cardiac arrest is sti...
Accuracy of Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (e-FAST) Performed by Emergency Medicine Residents in a Level One Tertiary Center of India
Introduction: It could be claimed that extended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (e-FAST) is the most important use of ultrasound in every emergency department (ED). It is a rapid, repeatable, non-invasive b...
Propofol-Ketamine vs. Propofol-Fentanyl Combinations in Patients Undergoing Closed Reduction: A Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial
Introduction: Painful surgical procedures require adequate sedation and analgesia. A vast array of medications can be used for Procedural Sedation and Analgesia (PSA) in Emergency Departments (EDs). Objective: The prese...
Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction in a Case of Von Willebrand Disease: a Case Report
Introduction: Studies have shown that patients with Von Willebrand disease (VWD) have decreased prevalence of thrombotic events like myocardial infarction (MI). Here we describe a case of VWD with acute non-ST-elevation...
Artificial Intelligence-Based Triage for Patients with Acute Abdominal Pain in emergency Department; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study
Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is the development of computer systems which are capable of doing human intelligence tasks such as decision making and problem solving. AI-based tools have been used for predict...