What is Faecolith appendix?
A fecalith is a stone made of feces. It is a hardening of feces into lumps of varying size and may occur anywhere in the intestinal tract but is typically found in the colon. It is also called appendicolith when it occurs in the appendix and is sometimes concomitant with appendicitis.
What is Retrocecal appendicitis?
Retrocaecal appendicitis presents with slightly different clinical features from those of classical appendicitis associated with a normally sited appendix. K-sign looks for the presence of tenderness on posterior abdominal wall in the retrocaecal and paracolic appendicitis.
What causes fecalith in appendicitis?
Concensus dictates that the main etiology of appendicitis is obstruction secondary to fecalith formation within the lumen of the appendix in adults. Other uncommon causes may include parasites, undigested plant or fruit residues, trauma and foreign bodies.
What is laparoscopic appendectomy surgery?
A laparoscopic (lap-a-ro- SKOPP-ik) or “lap” appendectomy is a minimally invasive surgery to remove the appendix through several small incisions, rather than through one large one. Recovery time from the lap appendectomy is short.
Is an appendicolith serious?
Appendicoliths are more commonly encountered after the development of imaging techniques in recent decades. They can present with different clinical symptoms. Most of the patients with appendicoliths are asymptomatic. However, appendicoliths may also cause serious appendicular inflammation and peritonitis.
How do you get rid of a fecalith?
Patients with a fecalith are usually managed conservatively with digital disimpaction, low-residue diet, administration of enemas and laxatives. If these do not work, the fecalith can be broken down with colonoscopic methods such as water jet and mechanical lithotripsy prior to surgical removal.
How does a fecalith develop?
In its extreme form, fecal impaction can lead to the formation of fecalith due to the hardening of fecal material that forms a mass separate from other bowel contents [1]. Most often, a fecalith can arise in the colon (mostly sigmoid, due to its smaller diameter) or rectum, and very rarely in the small intestine.
Can a faecolith be found during an appendicectomy?
The presence of a faecolith is a common finding at appendicectomy, 1 and has been shown to be associated with an increase in risk of appendiceal perforation. 2 In this particular case, the faecolith remained within the appendix; however, the radiological finding is an important consideration at the time of surgery.
Can a faecolith be seen on a plain X-ray?
While many faecoliths will not be visible on plain X-ray, if one is evident, as in this case, it is an important finding that needs to be considered at the time of appendicectomy. Calcified faecoliths within the appendix may be visible on plain X-ray. The presence of a faecolith within the appendix increases the risk of perforation.
What is the prevalence of faecolith in paediatrics?
In the paediatric age group, the faecolith prevalence rate was 29.9% (79/264) in positive cases and 22.2% (2/9) in negative cases. Reducing the threshold age to ≤14 years did not affect prevalence rates (29.0%).
Is there a correlation between gangrenous appendix and perforated appendix?
There was no correlation between a gangrenous/perforated appendix and the presence of a fecalith. The fecalith is an incidental finding and not always the primary cause of acute (nonperforated) appendictis or gangrenous (perforated) appendicitis.
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