[Peritonitis encapsulans. Anatomo-clinical aspects. Case report]

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Peritonitis encapsulans presents diagnostic challenges due to its rarity and non-specific clinical presentation.
• Understanding the clinical course and diagnostic pitfalls is crucial for timely intervention.

Observation:

• A patient presented with recurrent episodes suggestive of mechanical ileus.
• The clinical and instrumental findings were ambiguous, complicating the diagnostic process.
• Repeated episodes of ileus necessitated surgical exploration.

Findings:

• Diagnosis of peritonitis encapsulans was definitively established during intraoperative examination.
• The intraoperative findings confirmed the presence of the condition after non-invasive methods failed.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering rare conditions like peritonitis encapsulans in patients with unclear abdominal symptoms.
• Intraoperative diagnosis remains critical when faced with diagnostic uncertainty in surgical emergencies.
• Further research into earlier diagnostic markers for peritonitis encapsulans may improve patient outcomes.