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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
07:33
A Mouse Model of Intestinal Partial Obstruction
Published on: March 5, 2018
Congenital mesenteric hernia causing intestinal obstruction in children
Yung-Ching Ming1, Hsun Chin Chao, Chih-Cheng Luo
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Chang Gung Children's Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
European Journal of Pediatrics
|January 11, 2007
Summary
Congenital mesenteric hernias are rare causes of pediatric intestinal obstruction. Early diagnosis and surgical repair are crucial for favorable outcomes, as demonstrated in a case series of four children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Abdominal Wall Defects
Background:
- Mesenteric hernias are intra-abdominal hernias characterized by a mesenteric defect, not a distinct sac.
- Congenital mesenteric hernias are rare and can lead to serious complications like intestinal obstruction, particularly in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of congenital mesenteric hernias causing intestinal obstruction in pediatric patients.
- To highlight the rarity and diagnostic challenges of this condition in children.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of four pediatric patients diagnosed with congenital mesenteric hernia between 1996 and 2006.
- Clinical data including presentation, physical examination, diagnostic imaging (radiography, ultrasound), surgical findings, and outcomes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Four children (3 boys, 1 girl; aged 2y 5m to 5y 4m) presented with intestinal obstruction due to mesenteric hernia.
- Two patients had shock-like states with bowel necrosis; one had a palpable abdominal mass with small bowel volvulus.
- Surgical findings included small bowel incarceration in three and strangulated gangrenous bowel in one, with defect sizes ranging from 2 to 7 cm. Management varied from defect repair to bowel resection with anastomosis or ileostomy. No postoperative mortality occurred.
Conclusions:
- Congenital mesenteric hernia is an uncommon but significant cause of intestinal obstruction in the pediatric population.
- Open surgical exploration is essential for definitive diagnosis and appropriate management of mesenteric hernias.
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