A rare case of perforation of the subhepatic appendix by a toothpick in a patient with intestinal malrotation: laparoscopic approach

• Published in: Il Giornale di chirurgia 2016-07, Vol.37 (4), p.158-161
• Main Authors: Grassi, V, Desiderio, J, Cacurri, A, Gemini, A, Renzi, C, Corsi, Alessandro, Barillaro, I, Parisi, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Appendectomy - methods; Appendicitis - diagnosis; Appendicitis - etiology; Appendicitis - surgery; Appendix - abnormalities; Appendix - injuries; Clinical Practice; Digestive System Abnormalities - complications; Foreign-Body Migration - complications; Foreign-Body Migration - diagnosis; Foreign-Body Migration - surgery; Humans; Intestinal Volvulus - complications; Laparoscopy - methods; Male; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0391-9005; 1971-145X
• DOI: 10.11138/gchir/2016.37.4.158

Foreign body ingestion is not an uncommon problem in clinical practice. While most ingested foreign bodies pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract, sharp foreign bodies such as toothpicks should cause intestinal perforation. We reported the case of a perforation of the appendix caused by a toothpick, which also pierced the liver without hepatic damages, in a male with an intestinal malrotation and subhepatic appendix. The patient was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed the anomalous position of the first portion of the large intestine with inflamed appendix. A laparoscopic appendicectomy and the exploration of the abdominal cavity was performed using minimally invasive technique.