Sclerosing Encapsulating Peritonitis Mimicking an Internal Hernia: A Case Report

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a rare entity that could lead to abdominal obstruction; however, despite being reported in several case series, its underlying pathophysiology is still unclear. A large proportion of SEP cases are diagnosed incidentally or after surgical exploration, which poses a great challenge to pre-operative diagnosis. We hereby report a case of a 33-year-old male patient who presented with cachexia and a clinical picture of complete small bowel obstruction. CT scan of the abdomen raised suspicion of an internal hernia, prompting explorative surgical evaluation. Laparoscopy showed encasement of the small bowel loops in a thick fibrocollagenous membrane characteristic of SEP. Laparotomy with adhesiolysis and membrane excision successfully led to the resolution of obstruction. Retrospective interpretation of the initial CT scan confirmed the presence of SEP's characteristic radiological signs and provided an insight into how it contrasts with an internal hernia. This case provides an opportunity to highlight the differences between the two clinical entities and the pre-operative diagnostic strategies.