Stump Appendicitis After Appendectomy: A Case Report

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency surgery worldwide. Its diagnosis is primarily based on clinical presentation, supported by laboratory tests such as a complete blood count and imaging studies, with a non-contrast CT scan considered the gold standard. Although appendectomy is generally safe, it carries the risk of immediate and delayed complications. One such complication, stump appendicitis, is rare and often underrecognized, which can delay diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this report is to highlight the importance of considering stump appendicitis in patients with a prior history of appendectomy who present with symptoms suggestive of acute appendicitis. Prompt recognition is crucial to prevent severe complications, including peritonitis secondary to intestinal perforation, which can increase morbidity and mortality. We present the case of a 48-year-old male from Chihuahua, Mexico, who arrived at our hospital's emergency department with a four-day history of abdominal pain localized predominantly in the right iliac fossa. His medical history included an appendectomy performed several years earlier, which initially led clinicians to consider alternative diagnoses.