[Acute intestinal obstruction caused by congenital intestinal abnormalities]

By means of two examples--one in pregnancy, the other one after an abdominal hysterectomy--we report on a rare cause of an acute mechanical ileus. In both cases an incomplete intestinal turn with distinct mobility of the colon caused a volvulus. It is pointed to the importance of an early diagnosis inspite of aggravating circumstances in late pregnancy, parturition and postoperatively after gynecologic operations. Effective operative treatment is based on careful exploration of the abdomen in order not to overlook rare causes of an ileus, among those also fetal developmental disturbances of the intestine and other abdominal viscera. Only by operative removing of the causes of an ileus in cooperation with surgeons--and that in good time--the results in gynecology can be improved especially during pregnancy but also postoperatively.