An unusual complication of appendectomy

Abstract

Intraabdominal abscess formation is a well-recognized complication of perforated appendicitis. Extraabdominal complications, however, are rare. The authors present the case of an 8-year-old boy who had an acute painful right-sided scrotal mass 2 days after an operation for perforated appendicitis. During exploration, an abscess within a previously undiagnosed patent processus vaginalis was found and successfully managed by drainage. This case demonstrates that a persistent patent processus vaginalis may predispose to scrotal pathology secondary to intraabdominal sepsis and represents a unique complication of perforated appendicitis.