What to do Next When Appendix is Found “Normal Looking” at Appendectomy? A Case Report

Syed Abdul Rehman, Fatima Majid

Abstract

Acute appendicitis, though a frequently encountered surgical emergency, still poses number of challenges for the treating surgeons. This report describes an 11-year old boy in whom a normal appendix was removed at surgery for right lower quadrant abdominal pain. However, in postoperative period patient developed intestinal obstruction due to Meckel’s band. Patient was operated in our hospital where Meckel’s diverticulum along-with the band attached with the umbilicus compressing a loop of ileum, was removed. Patient was discharged after smooth recovery. An early diagnosis and surgery are emphasized when signs of intestinal obstruction persist after negative appendectomy. A thorough search for other pathology must be done when appendix is found normal. 

Key words

Negative appendectomy, Meckel’s band, Intestinal obstruction, Laparotomy, Meckel’s diverticulum, Child.