Appendicitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Appendicitis, including details on symptoms, surgery, causes, treatment.

Appendiceal fecalith is associated with early perforation in pediatric patients.

Alaedeen DI, Cook M, Chwals WJ

Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.

PURPOSE: A fecalith is a fecal concretion that can obstruct the appendix leading to acute appendicitis. We hypothesized that the presence of a fecalith would lead to an earlier appendiceal perforation. METHODS: Between January 2001 and December 2005, the charts of all patients younger than 18 years old who underwent appendectomy at our institution were reviewed. Duration of symptoms and timing between presentation and operation were noted along with radiologic, operative, and pathologic findings. RESULTS: There were 388 patients who met the study criteria. A fecalith was present in 31% of patients (n = 121). The appendix was perforated in 57% of patients who had a fecalith vs 36% in patients without a fecalith (P < .001). The overall rate of interval appendectomies was 12%. A fecalith was present on the initial radiologic studies of 36% of the patients who had interval appendectomies, and the appendix was perforated significantly sooner in these patients when compared to those without a fecalith (91 vs 150 hours; P = .036). CONCLUSION: The presence of fecalith is associated with earlier and higher rates of appendiceal perforation in pediatric patients with acute appendicitis. An expedient appendectomy should therefore be performed in the pediatric patient with a radiologic evidence of fecalith.

Published 19 May 2008 in J Pediatr Surg, 43(5): 889-92.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Appendicitis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.