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Published on: October 29, 2014
A left paraduodenal hernia causing acute bowel obstruction: a case report
V Brehm1, R Smithuis, P G Doornebosch
1Department of Surgery, Rijnland Hospital, Leiderdorp, The Netherlands.
Acta Chirurgica Belgica
|October 5, 2006
Summary
A rare left paraduodenal hernia caused a woman's recurrent abdominal pain and small bowel obstruction. Surgical repair resolved the condition, highlighting the need to consider this uncommon diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Abdominal Surgery
Background:
- Paraduodenal hernias are rare congenital internal hernias, often asymptomatic until complications arise.
- Left paraduodenal hernias account for a small percentage of internal hernias, typically occurring in the vicinity of the ligament of Treitz.
Observation:
- A 54-year-old woman presented with recurrent, self-resolving episodes of progressive abdominal pain over several years.
- Initial presentation to the emergency department revealed a sac-like mass of small bowel loops on CT scan, suggestive of a left paraduodenal hernia.
Findings:
- Laparotomy confirmed a left paraduodenal hernia with significant small bowel loop incarceration.
- Successful surgical management involved reduction of the herniated bowel and closure of the hernia orifice.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering left paraduodenal hernia in the differential diagnosis of acute small bowel obstruction, especially with a history of intermittent abdominal pain.
- Early recognition and surgical intervention are crucial for preventing complications associated with incarcerated paraduodenal hernias.
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