Laparoscopic management of a drain site evisceration of the vermiform appendix, a case report

Abstract

Introduction: Peritoneal cavity drainage is not riskless and several publications reported drain induced complications. However, till this day, abdominal drainage is still a subject of divergence between necessity and usual operative practice. We describe in this publication an exceptional complication of drainage, which is the drain site evisceration of the appendix.

Case presentation: We report the case of a 47-years-old patient, initially operated for perforated ulcer peritonitis, in whom an evisceration occured 48h after the removal of an intraperitoneal drain placed in the Douglas pouch, the physical examination predicated the presence of a herniated omentum fringe, as a precaution a laparoscopic exploration was performed and revealed that the eviscerated organ was the vermiform appendix, then a two trocars appendectomy was performed and the orifice of the evisceration was safely closed.

Discussion: Since the first description in 1995, only seven cases were reported in the literature, we propose a new management of the drain site evisceration of the appendix, including laparoscopic exploration, and both side control of the drain site defect closure, our technique seems safer.

Conclusion: The laparoscopic approaches must have a place in the management of the drain site eviscerations.

Keywords: Appendix; Case report; Drain complication; Emergency; Evisceration; Laparoscopic.