Acute Appendicitis with Appendicolith and its Complication and Management: A Case Report

• Published in: Cureus Vol. 15; no. 9; p. e45715
• Main Authors: Francis, Maya Ann, Nerella, Resheek, Francis, Deepa Treesa, Raj, Rohan, Zain, Ahmer, Augustine, Sana, Jamil, Niyaz A
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2023
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45715

Acute appendicitis is a common cause of acute abdominal pain requiring urgent surgery. Despite characteristic clinical signs, diagnosis can be challenging, leading to unnecessary appendectomies. This case report focuses on a 34-year-old male with escalating right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Imaging revealed acute appendicitis with a substantial appendicolith. Surgical intervention involved a open appendectomy with possible ileocecal resection due to cecal inflamation. Surgical findings indicated successful resection, and the patient recovered without complications. While urgent appendectomy is the norm, conservative approaches are gaining traction for peri-appendiceal abscesses. Interval appendectomy post-conservative treatment is a debated strategy. Management decisions are influenced by patient factors and disease severity. Future research is needed to establish standardized treatment protocols for complicated appendicitis. The case illustrates the evolving landscape of acute appendicitis management.