Band Adhesion Causing Intestinal Obstruction Without Previous Surgery in Pregnancy: A Rare Case

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Surgical Gastroenterology

Background:

• Intestinal obstruction (IO) during pregnancy is a rare but serious condition, posing significant risks to both mother and fetus.
• Diagnosis can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms with common pregnancy discomforts like labor pain and hyperemesis gravidarum.
• Traditional management often involves immediate exploratory surgery, potentially including delivery if the pregnancy is jeopardized.

Observation:

• A rare case of pregnancy-related small bowel intestinal obstruction (SBIO) occurred in the absence of prior surgical history.
• The patient presented with symptoms that could be mistaken for typical pregnancy-related issues.
• Conservative management was initially attempted for the SBIO.

Findings:

• Successful conservative management of SBIO was achieved prior to surgical intervention.
• The patient subsequently underwent an exploratory laparotomy and a lower segment cesarean section in the same operative setting.
• This combined approach effectively prevented potential maternal and fetal complications.

Implications:

• Highlights the potential for conservative management in select cases of SBIO during pregnancy.
• Demonstrates a successful combined surgical and obstetric approach for managing complex pregnancy-related IO.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering non-surgical interventions before resorting to immediate surgery in pregnant patients with IO.