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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Murine Ileocolic Bowel Resection with Primary Anastomosis
Published on: October 29, 2014
Fatal small bowel perforation complicating intestinal obstruction in pregnancy: A case report
Felix Pius Omullo1, Odenyo Stella Anyango2, Benard Munyao Mutua2
1Department of Surgery, Murang'a County Referral Hospital, Murang'a 10200, Central, Kenya. piuskirasia@gmail.com.
Background:
Intestinal obstruction (IO) in pregnancy, though rare (1:1500-1:66000), carries high maternal (6%-10%) and fetal mortality (26%). Adhesions from prior surgery are the leading cause. Diagnosis is often delayed due to symptom overlap with normal pregnancy, increasing risks of perforation and sepsis.
Case Summary:
A 25-year-old gravida 2 para 1 woman at 28 weeks of gestation presented with 1-week constipation, feculent vomiting, and abdominal distension. She had a history of exploratory laparotomy in 2015 for blunt abdominal trauma. The diagnosis of IO in pregnancy was confirmed via abdominopelvic ultrasound and clinical findings. Interventions included conservative measures (nasogastric tube decompression, enemas) followed by emergency laparotomy with bowel resection/anastomosis. Despite surgical management, the patient succumbed to septic shock.
Conclusion:
High clinical suspicion, expedited cross-sectional imaging (computed tomography/Magnetic resonance imaging), and emergent surgery are critical to reduce mortality.
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