Triple presentation of acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulum, and hemorrhagic ovarian cyst: A rare case report and literature review

With 2% prevalence worldwide, Meckel's diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the small intestine, which anatomically results from incomplete obliteration of the vitelline duct. It is usually difficult to differentiate clinically between acute appendicitis and Meckel's diverticulitis, thus in most clinical situations, it is asymptomatic and usually incidentally discovered intraoperatively. On the other hand, Acute appendicitis is one of the most common presentations in a surgical emergency with an 8.6% incidence in males and 6.7% in females. Triple presentation of acute appendicitis, Meckel's diverticulum, and a hemorrhagic ovarian cyst is a rare incidence in literature. A female patient 35 years old with no previous surgical history or known medical disease presented to our ER with right lower quadrant abdominal pain of one-day duration. On physical examination; there was right iliac fossa pain, tenderness, and rebound tenderness indicating acute appendicitis. Intraoperatively we operated appendectomy as usual through Gridiron incision. Upon opening of the parietal peritoneum, there was a hemorrhagic reaction with a catarrhal inflamed appendix. Ileal loops revealed a Meckel's diverticulum. With the peritoneal toilet, there was still a hemorrhagic reaction. Further exploration revealed a ruptured hemorrhagic ovarian cyst, which was managed using bipolar cautery and ligatures. In the operative management of acute appendicitis, we recommend proper assessment for both the right ovary and at least two feet of ileum proximal to the ileocecal valve to exclude any ovarian abnormalities or Meckel's diverticulum respectively especially if the appendix was normal or just was catarrhal inflamed. •Meckel’s diverticulum is the most common congenital anomaly of the small intestine-2% worldwide.•Acute appendicitis is one of the most common presentations in a surgical emergency.•The presentation of acute appendicitis, Meckel's, and an ovarian cyst is rare in literature•In managing acute appendicitis, assess ileum proximal to the ileocecal valve to exclude ovarian abnormalities or Meckel's diverticulum.