A case of laparoscopic appendectomy for appendiceal bleeding

Abstract

Background: Appendiceal bleeding is very rare, accounting for about 0.4% of all lower gastrointestinal bleeding. We present a case of laparoscopic appendectomy in a patient with a diagnosis of appendiceal bleeding.

Case presentation: A 71-year-old man came to our hospital with a complaint of bloody stools. He had progressive anemia and persistent fresh bloody stools, so he underwent lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Active bleeding was confirmed from the orifice of the appendix, but the bleeding could not be stopped even with clips, so an emergency laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. His postoperative course was good, and he was discharged on the third postoperative day. Although the pathology results did not allow identification of the source of the bleeding, an appendiceal diverticulum was observed, and appendiceal diverticular bleeding was suspected.

Conclusion: Appendiceal bleeding is often difficult to stop endoscopically, so appendectomy should be performed as soon as possible.

Keywords: Appendectomy; Appendiceal bleeding; Appendix diverticular bleeding.

Fig. 1

Explanation of the lower gastrointestinal findings. Bleeding is observed from the orifice of the appendix

Fig. 2

Histopathological examination findings. An appendiceal diverticulum is present, but no obvious source of bleeding can be identified. An artery was found near the appendiceal diverticulum, and it was determined to be the likely cause of the appendiceal diverticulum bleeding