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Epiploic Appendagitis

Paul A. Willette, FACEP, DO Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

Epiploic appendages are normal pedunculated structures that arise off the anti-mesenteric surface of the colon. These outpouchings are 1–2 cm in thickness and 0.5–5 cm in length and ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Acute onset sharp, focal, non-migratory LLQ (most common in adults) or RLQ (most common in children) pain, often mimicking acute diverticulitis or acute appendicitis respectively. Fev...

TREATMENT

  • Outpatient treatment is typical in most patients. In select cases where pain cannot be adequately controlled, patients may require admission for further pain management.

  • Oral NSAIDs for 4–7 d...

ONGOING CARE

DIET

Advance diet as tolerated 

PROGNOSIS

Benign and self-limited process, generally with an uncomplicated outpatient course  

COMPLICATIONS

Occurs rarely, but may require operative management...

REFERENCES

1
Zhao W, Sanchez AJ. Epiploic appendagitis after rigorous exercise in a woman: an easily misdiagnosed cause of acute abdomen. Am J Gastroenterol. Suppl. 2019;114:S836. doi: 10.14309/01.ajg...

ADDITIONAL READING

Gaur S, Jawahar RP, Prasad R, et al. Epiploic appendagitis—a rare cause of acute lower abdominal pain. Radiol Case Rep. 2021;16(5):1144–1147. doi: 10.1016/j.rad...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Epiploic appendagitis is a benign and self-limited process, generally with an uncomplicated outpatient course. 

  • Often mistaken for acute diverticulitis in adults and acute appendicitis ...

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