Published online Aug 27, 2015. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v7.i8.174
Peer-review started: November 11, 2014
First decision: December 26, 2014
Revised: June 5, 2015
Accepted: June 18, 2015
Article in press: June 19, 2015
Published online: August 27, 2015
Peritoneal encapsulation (PE) is a rare congenital malformation, characterized by a thin accessory peritoneal membrane which covers all or part of the small bowel, forming an accessory peritoneal sac. Most cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during surgery and/or autopsy. Clinical presentation with intestinal obstruction is extremely rare and we report a case. A 25-year-old male, referred to emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain, crampy, with 8 h evolution, associated with nausea, vomiting and constipation in the last 48 h. The abdominal examination revealed an asymmetric and fixed distension, with hard consistency on palpation of lower abdominal quadrants. The abdominal radiography reveals a small bowel distension and fluid levels. Submitted to laparoscopic surgery that recourse to conversion because there is a total peritoneal encapsulation of the small bowel. After opening the peritoneal sac, we find a rotation of mesentery, at its root, conditioning twisting of small bowel and consequently occlusion. Uneventful postoperative with discharged at the 6th day. The PE is a very rare congenital anomaly characterized by abnormal bowel back into the abdominal cavity in the early stages of development. Your knowledge becomes important because, although rare, it might be diagnosis in patients with intestinal obstruction, in the absence of other etiologic factors.
Core tip: Peritoneal encapsulation is a rare congenital malformation, characterized by a thin accessory peritoneal membrane which covers all or part of the small bowel, forming an accessory peritoneal sac. Most cases are asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during surgery and/or autopsy. Clinical presentation with intestinal obstruction is extremely rare and we report a case.