Internal herniation as a major cause of intestinal obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate internal herniation as a rare cause of intestinal obstruction.


METHODS
Files of 18 cases, operated due to internal herniation between 2000 and 2006 at Selcuk University, Meram School of Medicine, General Surgery Department, were reviewed retrospectively. Sixteen patients (88.8%) were male (mean age: 58.2 years; range: 42-67) and 2 were female (mean age: 56.5 years; range: 52-61).Cases were grouped according to the location of internal herniation, and the clinical findings and applied treatment strategies were evaluated.


RESULTS
All patients were taken into surgical operation after preoperative preparations were completed. Findings were as follows: 6 cases of paraduodenal internal herniation, 4 of internal herniation through a defect in the terminal mesoileum, 2 of herniation through a defect in the falciform ligament, 2 of herniation through a defect in the omentum majus, 1 of herniation to the recessus over the bladder, 2 of herniation through a defect in the transverse mesocolon and 1 iatrogenically caused internal herniation through a defect in the mesojejunum.


CONCLUSIONS
In an adult patient with findings of intestinal obstruction, diagnosis is difficult. Most cases presented to date are incidental findings during laparotomy, and surgical treatment is necessary.
Tekin
Ahmet
A
Department of General Surgery, Meram Medical Faculty, University of Selcuk, Konya, Turkey. drtekina@hotmail.com
Küçükkartallar
Tevfik
T
Aksoy
Faruk
F
Vatansev
Celalettin
C
Belviranli
Metin
M
Tekin
Sakir
S
Yol
Serdar
S
Sahin
Mustafa
M
Tavli
Sakir
S
Kartal
Adil
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D046449:Hernia, Abdominal / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult