Appendiceal duplication with simultaneous acute appendicitis and appendicular perforation causing small bowel obstruction

Abstract

Acute appendicitis, as well as intestinal obstruction, is a common surgical emergencies. Both the conditions can present as an acute abdomen, however the diagnosis of acute appendicitis can be overlooked when it presents as a small bowel obstruction. Difficulties in correctly identifying the cause of pain can be hazardous to the patient and care needs to be taken in obtaining a prompt and accurate diagnosis enabling the most appropriate management. Appendiceal duplication although rare and difficult to diagnose preoperatively, should be checked while operating for appendicular pathology in order to avoid serious clinical and medicolegal implications. We hereby report a case of appendiceal duplication presenting as small bowel obstruction with one appendix having acute appendicitis and the other one perforated in the middle third.