Figure - available from: Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Chest X-ray showing left hemidiaphragmatic elevation due to the accumulation of gas in the splenic angle of the colon.
Source publication
Intestinal obstruction is an uncommon surgical emergency during pregnancy that affects seriously the prognosis of gestation. The underlying cause can be identified in the majority of cases and usually consists of adhesions secondary to previous abdominal or pelvic surgery, followed in order of frequency by intestinal volvuli. In recent years there...
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Citations
... Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of large bowel obstruction. [1,4] Cardinal features of obstruction are abdominal pain, vomitting, absolute constipation and abdominal distension. Small bowel obstruction diagnosis is mainly based on a clinical examination and by confirmatory radiological examinations such as plain X ray of the abdominal cavity or computer tomography. ...
Introduction and importance:
Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency encountered almost in every casualty. Though adhesions, hernias and malignancies are the common causes of obstruction, various articles describe unusual causes of intestinal obstruction which needs timely surgical interventions to prevent morbidity and mortality.
Case presentation:
In this case report we present the history of a 50 year old sub-fertile woman who presented with features of intestinal obstruction and confirmed radiologically with both plain x-ray and computed tomography. After conservative management and as the imaging didn't show the cause of obstruction, exploratory laparotomy was performed. There we found have encircling of left fallopian tube around mid-ileum with gangrenous part. Left salphingectomy and bowel resection with side-to-side anastomosis resulted in a favorable outcome.
Clinical discussion:
Intestinal obstruction can compromise blood flow to bowel loops leading to gangrene, perforation and death.
Conclusion:
Awareness, early recognition and timely intervention in intestinal obstruction is mandatory to prevent poor outcomes, especially in cases of unknown cause and not responding to conservative management. The real surgical challenge is not the decision whether to perform surgery, but the decision when and how to perform it.
... There are also reports of uterine masses and foreign bodies, such as actinomycoses and leiomyomas, causing large bowel obstruction [2,3]. Intestinal or colonic obstruction due to a gravid uterus in the third trimester, although rare, has also been documented [4]. However, there is no precedent for how to manage large bowel obstruction secondary to a post-partum uterus. ...
Large bowel obstruction in the immediate post-partum period is rare. Reported mechanical causes include compression by extrinsic masses such as uterine growths or foreign bodies, which usually require operative intervention. We report a case of a 43-year-old woman with mechanical large bowel obstruction secondary to a post-partum uterus. This was diagnosed clinically, confirmed on computed tomography scan and successfully managed conservatively. This is the reported first case of large bowel obstruction caused by a post-partum uterus in the literature and demonstrates that this unusual presentation may be managed conservatively in the clinically well patient. We present a case of a 43 year old woman, who was referred to the general surgery team two days post emergency Caesarean section. She had an uncomplicated lower uterine segment Caesarean section for failure to progress post induction of labour. She gave birth to a healthy, full term neonate. The patient described 24 hours of worsening central colicky abdominal pain, distension, nausea and vomiting. She had not opened her bowels since the surgery, but was still passing small amounts of flatus, albeit infrequently. The obstetrics team initially treated her for presumed post-operative ileus and had given her oral and per rectal aperients. Prior to this Caesarean section, she had had four vaginal deliveries but no previous surgeries. There is no other significant past medical history and she did not take any regular medications. On initial examination, she looked well but in discomfort. Her blood pressure was 130/80, heart rate 90, SaO 2 99% on room air, respiratory rate 16, temperature 37.3, GCS 15. Her abdomen was grossly distended with mild generalised tenderness but no peritonism. Bowel sounds were completely absent and her caesarean wound was unremarkable. Erect and supine abdominal X-rays demonstrated moderately distended loops of large and small bowel with multiple air fluid levels and no gas in the rectum. Due to concern about a large bowel obstruction, a CT abdomen with intravenous and nasogastric contrast was performed. This scan revealed a partial mechanical large bowel obstruction with the transition point at the sigmoid colon. The obstruction appeared to be due to extrinsic compression from the adjacent enlarged, post partum uterus (Figure 1). The patient remained clinically stable, continued to pass flatus and did not wish for any invasive procedure to be performed unless there was an absolute indication. From the images, it can be seen that the compressed segment of sigmoid colon is to the left of the uterus. In light of this clinical scenario and the anatomical relationship, the surgical team advised the patient to lie in the right lateral decubitus position in an attempt to allow gravity to assist in relieving the extrinsic compression. No external manual force was applied. The patient remained in the right lateral position overnight, as instructed. On review the following morning, her pain and distension had significantly improved. That same day, her bowels opened twice and repeat abdominal X-ray showed that the large bowel distention had significantly improved. She continued to improve clinically over the next few days and was discharged on post operative day six by the obstetrics team. Discussion To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in the literature of a post-partum uterus causing a mechanical large bowel obstruction. Certainly, colonic pseudo-obstruction (Ogilvie's syndrome) is a recognised entity in pregnancy and the post-partum period [1]. There are also reports of uterine masses and foreign bodies, such as actinomycoses and leiomyomas, causing large bowel obstruction [2,3]. Intestinal or colonic obstruction due to a gravid uterus in the third trimester, although rare, has also been documented [4]. However, there is no precedent for how to manage large bowel obstruction secondary to a post-partum uterus. We would advise clinical judgment be implemented on a case-by-case basis. Should the obstruction not resolve with conservative measures and the patient a b Figure 1: Computed tomography images of the abdomen and pelvis with intravenous and oral contrast showing axial (a), sagittal (b) views of partial large bowel obstruction caused by a post-partum uterus (U), demonstrating a clear transition point at the sigmoid colon (red arrow).
A primiparous female developed acute large bowel obstruction Day 1 post lower segment Caesarean section. Initially presumed to be post-operative ileus, increasing abdominal pain and distension over the next 24 h prompted a surgical consult. Computed tomography imaging demonstrated an abrupt transition point of the large bowel behind a polymyomatous uterus. Although this case resolved with vigorous patient mobilization, literature review reveals previous cases resolving only after intraoperative mobilization of the uterus. It is distinct from ileus as bowel sounds are present, onset is abrupt, progression is rapid and mobilization of the uterus causes immediate resolution. This condition is likely to be more common than the literature would suggest, its scarcity partially due to the reluctance to image young females especially during pregnancy.
