Neonatal Perforated Appendicitis Attributed to Localized Necrotizing Enterocolitis of the Appendix: A Review

Authors

Andrew Tumen, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
Pranit N. Chotai, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
John Matthew Williams, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Regional One Health, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
Adrianne Myers-Webb, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
Ramesh Krishnan, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Regional One Health, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
James W. Eubanks Iii, Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.

Abstract

Neonatal appendicitis is a rare clinical entity associated with remarkable morbidity and mortality. Appendicular perforation is common and the diagnosis is usually made intra-operatively. The causative etiology of neonatal perforated appendicitis (NPA) is a subject of debate and has not been elucidated. Although many etiologic theories exist, increasing evidence suggests a subset of NPA cases may represent a form of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) localized to the appendix. We herein present a review of the current literature to include cases of NPA attributed to localized NEC. A high index of clinical suspicion and early laparotomy are recommended.

Publication Title

Journal of neonatal surgery

Recommended Citation

Tumen, A., Chotai, P. N., Williams, J. M., Myers-Webb, A., Krishnan, R., & Eubanks Iii, J. W. (2017). Neonatal Perforated Appendicitis Attributed to Localized Necrotizing Enterocolitis of the Appendix: A Review. Journal of neonatal surgery, 6 (3), 60. https://doi.org/10.21699/jns.v6i3.535