CASES OF THE WEEK - “5 year old Emirati child underwent emergency surgery for perforated appendicitis” by Dr Wissam Al Tamr, Specialist Paediatric Surgery, NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah

An Emirati female patient (child) 5 ½ year old came to our hospital on 1st of June 2020 complaining of high grade fever, vomiting, cough and abdominal pain of 3 days duration. The child was admitted under the care of Dr Hossameldin Maged , Consultant Paediatrics

After clinical examination, the blood investigations conducted showed high markers of inflammation. The abdomen ultrasound showed perforated appendicitis and  the case was referred to Dr. Wissam AlTamr, Specialist Paediatric Surgery.

Dr Wissam was supported by Dr. Ayman Moustafa, Consultant Anaesthesiology who managed the case  even if the patient wasn’t fasting.  An  urgent open appendectomy was conducted and they found a perforated appendicitis with collection of pus (abscess).

Dr Wissam advices all parents is do not ignore symptoms like fever or abdominal pain. Ensure that you consult a doctor to rule out any complications. If parents do consult on time, an acute appendicitis can be managed with a hospital stay of 24 hours and the duration of an un-perforated surgery would be less than 30 minutes.

But with Emergency cases like the ones mentioned above will entail a hospital stay for the patient for  7-10 days to take IV antibiotic and the surgery in itself would last for over an hour and a half.

The parents were very grateful for Dr Wissam’s timely intervention and the service provided by the team of Al Zahra Hospital Sharjah.