Unusual late occurrence of bowel obstruction following blunt abdominal trauma.
We report a case of late occurrence of small bowel obstruction due to stricture resulting from blunt abdominal trauma. On initial computed tomography (CT) scan, the patient had a mesenteric hematoma, which was managed conservatively. Approximately two weeks later, he complained of worsening abdominal pain and developed clinical signs of bowel obstruction. A repeat enhanced CT scan showed a stenotic loop of distal ileum adjacent to a large mesenteric mass. The loop was resected. We propose that post-traumatic intestinal stenosis be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients who have experienced blunt abdominal trauma and present later with clinical signs of bowel obstruction.
Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, USA.
Ashley
A
Northcutt
Alireza
A
Hamidian Jahromi
Lester
L
Johnson
Asser M
AM
Youssef
D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*