Postcesarean small bowel volvulus. Case report and review of the literature

D M Sherer1, O Abulafia

  • 1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., USA.

Volvulus is an uncommon cause of bowel obstruction during pregnancy. We present an unusual case in which cesarean delivery at 26 weeks of gestation was complicated by volvulus of the small bowel 1 week following delivery. At laparotomy, detorsion of the loop of the terminal ileum sufficed, and bowel resection was not required. We review the literature pertaining to volvulus of the bowel during pregnancy and discuss recent new diagnostic imaging modalities for midgut volvulus, which may assist early noninvasive diagnosis of this condition.

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