Small Bowel Obstruction Due to Internal Hernia Caused by the Vermiform Appendix, Mesentery of the Small Intestines, and Greater Omentum in a Patient with No History of Abdominal Surgery

• Published in: Gan to kagaku ryoho Vol. 49; no. 13; p. 1556
• Main Authors: Yamada, Masanori, Takii, Mamiko, Gyobu, Ken, Oshima, Tsutomu, Mayumi, Katsushi, Tanaka, Yoshinori, Takemura, Masashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Aged; Appendix - diagnostic imaging; Appendix - pathology; Ascites - diagnostic imaging; Humans; Internal Hernia - complications; Intestinal Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Intestinal Obstruction - etiology; Intestinal Obstruction - surgery; Intestine, Small - diagnostic imaging; Intestine, Small - surgery; Male; Mesentery - diagnostic imaging; Mesentery - pathology; Omentum - diagnostic imaging; Omentum - pathology; Tissue Adhesions - complications; Tissue Adhesions - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0385-0684

Our patient was a 69-year-old man being treated for hyperlipidemia. He was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of vomiting and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography(CT)showed dilation of the distal small intestines, a small amount of ascites in the small intestines near the right pelvis, and a closed loop of the small intestine. Enhanced abdominal CT was performed to evaluate intestinal ischemia. Given the adequate blood flow to the wall, the small intestines forming the closed loop, and no increase in ascites, the patient was treated conservatively. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed because of the narrowed lumen and incomplete obstruction observed on the abdominal CT and contrast- enhanced imaging of the ileal tube. The tip of the appendix adherent to the mesentery of the small intestines, approximately 80 cm from the ileum, and the omentum adherent to the bottom of the right pelvis caused the obstruction. A cord dissection and appendectomy were performed. Making the diagnosis was difficult because there was no history of appendicitis and the small intestinal obstruction was caused by adhesions in 2 places with no history of laparotomy.