title: Congenital peritoneal encapsulation of the small intestine: A rare case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritoneal Encapsulation (PE) is a scarce congenital malformation, characterized by a supplementary peritoneal membrane that covers all or a part of the small intestine.
  
  
  METHODS
  PE was unexpectantly discovered in a young woman during laparotomy for bowel obstruction. There were no specific pre-operative indications of this malformation. The operation was uneventful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PE is a very rare congenital anatomical anomaly that is difficultly identified pre-operatively. PE is mainly asymptomatic, but in some cases, like in the presented one, PE presents with small bowel obstruction. Surgeons should be aware of this malformation and suspect it when encountering a patient with small bowel obstruction without other etiological factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of this peculiar congenital anomaly is pivotal, so that accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of it are direct and efficient.
authors: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: m.zoulamoglou@gmail.com.
authors: Menelaos
authors: M
authors: Zoulamoglou
authors: Breast Unit, General and Maternity Hospital "Helena Venizelos", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: iflessas@gmail.com.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Flessas
authors: Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: mzarokosta@gmail.com.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Zarokosta
authors: Department of Surgery, General and Maternity Hospital "Mitera", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: theo.piperos@gmail.com.
authors: Theodoros
authors: T
authors: Piperos
authors: Department of Surgery, Naval Hospital of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: vassilis_kalles@yahoo.gr.
authors: Vasileios
authors: V
authors: Kalles
authors: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece. Electronic address: jtsiaoussis@med.uoc.gr.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Tsiaousis
authors: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece. Electronic address: ikakla@med.uoa.gr.
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Kaklamanos
authors: Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece. Electronic address: sgantzos@med.uth.gr.
authors: Markos
authors: M
authors: Sgantzos
authors: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece; Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: theodorosmariolis@yahoo.gr.
authors: Theodoros
authors: T
authors: Mariolis-Sapsakos
keywords: Case report intestinal obstruction; Congenital peritoneal membrane; Peritoneal encapsulation