Presentation
Severe abdominal pain and distension for 4 days with a history of abdominal surgery.
Patient Data
Most left-sided colon is absent due to previous surgical resection. The right-sided colon and rectum are grossly dilated and filled with a large amount of impacted faeces. The largest diameter of the colon measures up to 10.3 cm.
Abnormal U and C-shape small bowel loops dilatation at the left lumbar region, with a diameter up to 4.0cm. These segments of dilated ileum have reduced bowel wall enhancement compared to the normal calibre and well-enhanced jejunum.
No intramural gas, pneumoperitoneum or portal venous gas. Moderate ascites.
Mesenteric infiltration/fluid with mesentery lymphadenopathy noted.
Case Discussion
This a case of a closed-loop small bowel obstruction. The reduced bowel wall enhancement at this segment of small bowel segments and ascites are suspicious of bowel ischaemia.
Chronic rectal faecal impaction and gross distension, the diagnosis of stercoral colitis should be considered (although it is commonly encountered in elderly patients, it can present in young patients who have neurologic or muscular disorders).
This patient has a history of extended left hemicolectomy during infancy with primary anastomosis. The intestinal obstruction is likely due to adhesion. Intra-operatively a closed-loop obstruction secondary to adhesion bands with a short segment of small bowel ischaemia resected and an ileostomy created.