Introduction

Subhepatic appendicitis was first described by King in 1955. [1] Atypical presentation of acute appendicitis may be due to varied position of the tip of the appendix. The location and spread of inflammation from acute appendicitis depends on the location of the appendix. Subhepatic appendicitis usually presents with right upper abdominal pain. It is clinically indistinguishable from acute cholecystitis. C T scan of abdomen is frequently required for confirmation of diagnosis in atypical cases of acute appendicitis, but when C T scan of abdomen is inconclusive  then diagnostic laparoscopy is recommended. [2, 3]

Case report

A 25 year male presented in surgical emergency with acute pain in right upper abdomen. Pain was severe in nature and associated with nausea and vomiting. Clinical examination showing Pulse rate 100/minute with normal blood pressure and tender right hypochondrium. On the basis of these findings, patient was admitted with the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. On work up, TLC was 12000/cmm with 92% polymorph and USG abdomen showing normal gall bladder. Initially the patient was managed conservatively and CECT abdomen was advised. CECT abdomen [Fig-1] was showing subhepatic appendicitis with high up ceacum and minimal free fluid in the subhepatic region. Patient was taken up for laparoscopic appendectomy. On surgery, ceacum and appendix was found at subhepatic region with inflamed and perforated appendix [Fig-2]. Appendectomy was done. Patient recovered well after surgery.

Figure 1

CECT abdomen showing subhepatic appendicitis with distended gall bladder

Figure 2

Laparoscopic appendectomy showing subhepatic perforated appendix and distended gall bladder

Discussion

Acute appendicitis is one of the common clinical conditions of pain abdomen, but the classical clinical presentation may not be always present due to varied position of the tip of appendix. The different position of appendix are retroceacal (74%), pelvic (21%), subcaecal (1.5%), preilial (1%), and postilial (0.5%). [4]

Subhepatic appendicitis was first described by King in 1955 [1] Subhepatic appendicitis leads to delay in diagnosis and higher complication rates, including perforation and suppuration. [5,6] Diagnostic uncertainty due to non-classical evolution of acute appendicitis may occur when the appendix is anatomically mal-positioned.[3] The differential diagnosis of subhepatic appendicitis are acute cholecystitis, right ureteric colic and acute pyelonephritis etc.[7]

“During the development of the intestine, the vermiform appendix and ceacum develop from the ceacal bud of the post arterial segment of the midgut loop. In the initial stages of development, the ceacum and the appendix are of the same diameter, but later, the appendix narrows down because of the faster growth of the proximal part of the ceacal bud. The midgut herniated to the umbilical cord as a part of the physiological umbilical hernia in the sixth week of intrauterine life, and returns back to the abdomen in the tenth week of intrauterine life. When the intestine returns to the abdomen, the ceacum and appendix occupy the subhepatic position. Later, in the eleventh week, they descend to the right iliac fossa”. [8, 9]  “The subhepatic position of the appendix has been attributed to a failure of descent of the ceacum during embryonic development”. [10] Irrespective of age, the varied location of appendix is due to adhesions, which leads to atypical presentation, delay in diagnosis and increased adverse outcomes. [11]

 Sub-hepatic appendicitis is very rare. Its incidence is 0.08% of all cases of appendicitis in one study from India. [12] Pre operative diagnosis of sub-hepatic appendicitis is difficult and usually diagnosed at laparoscopy for undiagnosed pain abdomen. Sub-hepatic appendicular abscess is the most common reported presentation. Sub-hepatic appendicitis usually mimic as acute cholecystitis. Ultrasound abdomen is usually used in suspected cases but C T scan of abdomen is more sensitive in diagnosing acute appendicitis especially in young female. [12, 13, 14]  In situations where abdominal C T is inconclusive and clinical diagnosis of appendicitis is doubtful then diagnostic laparoscopy is recommended. [12]

Conclusion

Subhepatic appendicitis is difficult to diagnose clinically. It is diagnosed either after contrast enhanced computed tomography scan of abdomen or after diagnostic laparoscopy for acute abdomen. It is best to go for diagnostic laparoscopy in acute abdomen whenever there is diagnostic difficulty.