Left-Sided Appendicitis in an Elderly Patient with Midgut Malrotation

Indian J Surg. 2015 Dec;77(Suppl 3):1418-20. doi: 10.1007/s12262-014-1200-9. Epub 2014 Nov 23.

Abstract

Appendicitis is a common surgical abdominal disease with various presentations. Its diagnosis may be obscured by asymptomatic congenital anatomical anomalies like midgut malrotation. Midgut malrotation is a rare fetal anomaly resulting from incomplete or failure of midgut rotation and fixation. It is mostly presented with bowel obstruction or volvulus in early life. Presentation in adult is rare. Here, we report an elderly patient presented with left lower abdominal pain and urinary tract infection. Abdominal computed tomography revealed left-sided appendicitis with non-rotational-type midgut malrotation. Clinicians should bear in mind the possibility of underlying midgut malrotation, as appendicitis could be the first presentation of this rare congenital condition.

Keywords: Acute appendicitis; Intestinal malrotation; Left-sided appendicitis; Midgut malrotation.