Open Access Emergency Medicine (Apr 2024)
Lung Abscess as a Complication of Appendicitis
Abstract
Molla Asnake,1 Suleman Hassen,2 Anteneh Messele,1 Yosef Habtemariam,1 Sisay Mengistu,2 Bizuayehu Tassew,2 Tsegaw Worku,1 Woineab Tadeg1 1Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, Ethiopia; 2Department of Surgery, College of Health Sciences, Mizan-Tepi University, Mizan Aman, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Molla Asnake, Email [email protected]: Appendicitis is an inflammation of the vermiform appendix (located near the base of the cecum). A lung abscess is a cavitary lesion containing necrotic lung tissue or an infected fluid component. It mainly occurs as a result of lung parenchymal disease. The patient was a 25-year-old male who first presented with a 1-week history of productive cough and chest pain associated with low-grade fever. He was diagnosed with a lung abscess as a complication of perforated retro cecal appendicitis. We report this in consideration of reducing the challenge of delay in diagnosis of this rare complication, and to avoid mistreatment specifically when the patient’s chest x-ray resembles empyema. Additionally, we encourage doing further studies on this topic.Keywords: lung abscess, sepsis, perforated appendicitis