A Sneaky Symptom

​BY JEFFREY LOMBARDO, MD, & MARK SUPINO, MDThe progressive suprapubic pain was a cunning symptom.The 38-year-old man had had five days of that pain and dysuria. By the time he presented to our ED, his pain had spread to the right lower quadrant as well. He had a history of diverticulitis after a laparoscopic left hemicolectomy four years earlier.He reported no fevers, but complained of nausea and diarrhea. He was afebrile at 36.8°C with a pulse of 76 bpm. All other vital signs were normal. Physical exam was significant for suprapubic pain and right lower quadrant tenderness to palpation without rebound, guarding, or distention.His workup revealed a normal white blood cell count of 4.2, as well as a normal basic chemistry and urinalysis. A CT of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast showed a dilated appendix tip measuring 12 mm with mucosal enhancement and fat stranding. The appendix was elongated and overlying the bladder.Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous contrast. The yellow arrows show the appendix coursing through the lower abdomen and overlying the bladder.Our patient was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. He was given antibiotics, intravenous fluids, kept NPO, and admitted to the surgical team. He underwent uncomplicated laparoscopic appendectomy and was discharged the next day.Suprapubic pain and right lower quadrant pain are typical chief complaints in the emergency department, but it is important to keep a broad different...
Source: The Case Files - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: research