Open controversies on the treatment of undescended testis: An update

Retrocecal Ascending Appendix Attached to the Hepatic Flexure and Right Intra-abdominal Testis Identified During Open Appendicectomy: A Case Report

Appendicectomy, or the removal of the appendix, is an emergency procedure following symptomatic acute appendicitis. Diagnosis is made on clinical examination but can be confirmed on imaging if other abnormalities are suspected. A few variants of appendix anatomical position exist that can be difficult to manage. In addition, secondary findings during surgery can come unexpectedly. We report a case of a 14-year-old male, who presented to the emergency department at our government institution with abdominal pain and vomiting. Examination revealed an empty right scrotum, which was unnoticed by the patient and never examined previously due to residence in an area of limited healthcare access. Ultrasound done elsewhere was inconclusive. The surgical intervention showed a retrocecal appendix attached to an ascending colon terminating at hepatic flexure. The procedure was further complicated by the presence of the right intra-abdominal testis located below the cecum. Excised samples were sent for histopathology, and the patient was followed with biopsy reports. This case highlights the challenges encountered during routine appendicectomy with unusual findings.