Closed loop obstruction

Case contributed by Irvine Sihlahla
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Previous history of abdominal gunshot injury with subsequent stoma placement 1 year ago. Now complaining if vomiting and abdominal pain for 3 days.

Patient Data

Age: 35 years
Gender: Male
ct

Left-sided ileostomy with no parastomal hernia or strangulation. Small bowel obstruction with dilated proximal bowel loops and collapsed distal loops. Coronal images show the swirling of vessels and mesentery around a coffee-bean-shaped loop of the bowel. This represents a segment of a loop of the bowel that has been obstructed at two points. The large bowel is collapsed. No portomesentric gas. Retained bullet shrapnel in noted within the posterior lower chest

x-ray

Multiple air-fluid levels within the central abdomen. No pneumoperitoneum or portomesenteric gas. Radio-opaque in the left upper quadrant from retained bullet shrapnel.

Case Discussion

The case demonstrates a segment of small bowel obstruction with swirling of mesenteric vessels and fat in keeping with closed-loop obstruction. The patient had surgery with confirmation of the small bowel obstruction.

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