Left paraduodenal hernia presenting as intestinal obstruction: report of one case

We report a case of internal hernia of the small intestine in a 13-year-old boy with presentation of partial intestinal obstruction. The patient suffered from recurrent abdominal pain and chronic constipation over the past few years. An abdominal mass was suspected from clinical manifestations and images derived from abdominal echography. Upper gastrointestinal contrast study revealed poor motility at the distal jejunum with barium stasis. Follow-up film on the next day delineated medially and downwardly displaced splenic flexure and proximal descending colon. At operation, total herniation of small intestine into a retroperitoneal space through a defect on left mesocolon was noted. A left paraduodenal (mesocolic) hernia was diagnosed. The patient made an uneventful recovery after the hernia was repaired. This report provides unusual image clues of internal hernias of the small intestine presenting as ileus. Though rare, paraduodenal hernia should be taken into account in a differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Early surgical intervention allows uneventful recovery to occur and also prevents the possible complication of gangrenous bowels.