Abstract:

Laxative drugs are frequently used for chronic constipation. The chronic use of laxatives, which contain anthraquinone, mostly causes melanosis coli. A 57-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease, had long-term laxative use due to chronic constipation. The patient was admitted to the emergency service with the complaint of inflammatory abdominal pain that started in the epigastric region one day ago and migrated to the right lower quadrant. During the physical examination, right lower quadrant tenderness and rebound were positive. Imaging examinations and physical examination were consistent with acute appendicitis. The patient underwent an appendectomy via Mc Burney incision under general anesthesia. The postoperative follow-up period was complication-free and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day. Postoperative specimen pathology was reported as an appendix with melanosis coli findings. The incidence of melanosis coli increases with the chronic use of laxative drugs. Although melanosis coli is seen as a benign disease, there are no accurate data about whether it increases the risk of colon cancer and the incidence of acute appendicitis.

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