EPIPLOIC APPENDAGITIS: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Epiploic Appendagitis (EA) is a rare as well as self-limiting reason of acute abdomen. We present a case of a 34 year old male patient, who presented to the surgical department with a 3 days history of pain in right iliac fossa. On examination he was apyrexial and vitally stable. However; there was typical guarding on palpation and rebound tenderness in right iliac fossa. Complete blood count was within normal limits. Ultrasound examination showed minimal free fluid in right iliac fossa along with probe tenderness. Appendix was of normal diameter. Computed tomography demonstrated typical features of Epiploic Appendagitis.

The term was first used by Lynn et al. in the mid 1950s. With the increase in CT scanning radiologists need to be increasingly aware of the clinical and radiological appearances of Epiploic Appendagitis to avoid surgical intervention.

This patient was treated with medication at home with the recommendation of rehydration and strict rest. Moreover, he was given prescription of oral medicines including metronidazole, ciprofloxacin and NSAIDs (ibuprofen) for 7 days to avert more complexities like gut adherence, intestinal obstruction, peritoneal inflammation and localized pus accumulation. Prompt recovery was noted after 5 days in the form of settling of his symptoms including pain. To end, it can be assumed that although exceptional in incidence with insufficient specific features on presentation, to diagnose EA has developed straightforward with investigations like computed tomography; thus, with previous observation for EA among doctors, nonessential surgeries can be prevented.