Acute appendicitis resulting from rectosigmoid foreign body

Publication date: Available online 27 August 2014 Source:Formosan Journal of Surgery Author(s): Rahul Gupta , Tariq Ahmed Mala , Atul Gupta , Arun Kumar Gupta , Rozy Paul A case is presented of a rectosigmoid foreign body causing perforation of the rectosigmoid colon and ulcerating the base of the appendix that resulted in acute appendicitis in a 9-year-old boy, which was initially misdiagnosed. A preoperative diagnosis of acute appendicitis was made after clinical evaluation and abdominal ultrasound, suggestive of the same. An upright abdominal X-ray was also performed to rule out suspected perforation, which showed a radio-opaque shadow in the right iliac region, misdiagnosed as a fecalith. The abdomen was opened for appendectomy and the tip of a pen was immediately observed perforating the sigmoid colon, touching the base of the appendix and ulcerating it, resulting in appendicitis. Subsequently, the pen was removed from the perforation site. Sigmoid colon perforation was repaired and appendectomy was performed. There were no postoperative complications, and the patient was referred for psychiatric evaluation. Histopathology of the specimen confirmed acute appendicitis.
Source: Formosan Journal of Surgery - Category: Surgery Source Type: research