Perforated Acute Appendicitis in a Six-Day-Old Neonate: A Rare Differential Diagnosis of Neonatal Peritonitis

Abstract

Acute appendicitis is a rare diagnosis of acute abdomen in neonates which is associated with high mortality due to late diagnosis. Here, we presented a case of acute neonatal appendicitis in a 6-year-old full-term infant with Down syndrome and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect. The patient underwent surgery and postoperative critical care. However, he died on postoperative day 5 due to worsening sepsis and decompensated hemodynamic instability.

Keywords

• appendicitis
• neonates
• sepsis
• surgery