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Diverticulosis of the vermiform appendix
Author(s) -
Wetzig Neil R.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb113876.x
Subject(s) - vermiform , appendix , diverticulum (mollusc) , diverticulosis , medicine , perforation , laparotomy , appendicitis , acute appendicitis , incidence (geometry) , general surgery , surgery , mathematics , paleontology , materials science , metallurgy , punching , biology , geometry
A case of appendicitis that was associated with a rare congenital diverticulum of the appendix is presented, along with the results of a retrospective study of diverticulosis of the appendix over a 10‐year period. The incidence of the condition in this series (0.65%) is similar to other published series; however, two cases involved rare congenital diverticula — only 43 of such cases have been previously recorded in the medical literature world‐wide. The average age of patients who present with acute appendicitis with acquired diverticula (37.8 years) is greater than that of patients without the condition. The perforation rate of an inflamed appendix when diverticula were present (27%) was higher than when no diverticula existed (6.6%). Because of the earlier and higher perforation rate, it is proposed that appendicectomy be performed if an appendix with diverticula is found during the course of a laparotomy for some other condition.