title: Congenital band of the vitelline artery remnant as a cause of chronic lower abdominal pain in an adult: Case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intraabdominal bands of the vitelline vessel remnant are the rarest form of congenital mesodiverticluar bands which may or may not be associated with Meckel's diverticulum. In the majority of cases they cause an acute abdominal disease such as intestinal obstruction, especially in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 64 year old gentleman who experienced recurrent episodes of abdominal distension and bloating over two years. Computed tomography of his abdomen, colonoscopy, and barium follow through were all normal. Diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a single band adhesion stretching between the distal ileal mesentery and the anterior abdominal wall near the umbilicus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Congenital vascular bands are established causes of acute intestinal obstruction especially in children but are relatively uncommon. Their role in chronic abdominal pain is rare and diagnosis is difficult preoperatively. Pain in the patient was most likely due to recurrent partial twisting and untwisting of the bowel around the band.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case not only highlights an unusual cause of chronic abdominal pain, but also the effectiveness of laparoscopy as a diagnostic tool in such patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport NP20 2UB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jalil
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rasheed
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nutt