An Operated Case of Chilaiditi's Syndrome, Interposition of the Small Intestine, Associated with Ieus

Kiyotaka Fukura, Hiroshi Suenaga, Kazuyuki Hagiwara, Takashi Aikou*

Sendai Saiseikai Hospital
*First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University School of Medicine

Interposition of the intestine, mostly the large intestine, into the right subphrenic space is known as Chilaiditi's syndrome. This is a case report of a 79-year-old man with the complaint of abdominal pain. We diagnosed this case as Chilaiditi's syndrome with ileus, from a chest X-ray which showed an intestinal gas-filled loop in the right upper quadrant. An abdominal X-ray showed air-fluid levels and marked distension of the bowel loops. A radiograph with contrast medium was taken using a long tube. Strangulation due to incarceration of the small intestine was observed. To avoid a recurrence of this condition, an operation was undertaken. This case suggests the necessity of identifying the interposing organ and whether it is a transient or persistent type.

Key words
Chilaiditi's syndrome, interposition of the small intestine between the diaphragm and liver, ileus

Reprint requests
Kiyotaka Fukura First Department of Surgery, Kagoshima University School of Medicine
8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890 JAPAN

Accepted
September 9, 1997

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