A Case of Intestinal Obstruction in an Adult Induced by Omphalomesenteric Duct Remnant

Makiko Tanaka, Kazuma Koide, Teturou Yamashita, Shigeru Ono*, Fumihiro Taniguchi, Yasuhiro Shioaki and Hideaki Kurioka

Department of Surgery and Department of Pediatric Surgery*, Kyoto First Red Cross Hospital

A 25-year-old woman seen for abdominal pain that decreased after taking medicine was sent home but returned the next day when pain recurred and intensified. After admission, pain intensified with peritoneal irritation. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed swollen small intestines, and laboratory studies showed a severe pancytopenia. Emergency laparotomy showed an omphalomesenteric duct remnant between the peritoneal umbilicus and the ileum. The small intestine was twisted around the duct and the other part of the small intestine was entrapped. An internal hernia caused an intestinal obstruction. Few such reports have been made in adults, but this possibility should be considered as a possible cause of intestinal obstruction in patients not having undergone previous abdominal surgery.

Key words
omphalomesentric duct remnant, intestinal obstruction, adult

Reprint requests
Makiko Tanaka Department of Surgery, Kyoto First Red Cross Hospital
15-749 Higasiyama-ku, Honnmati, Kyoto, 605-0981 JAPAN

Accepted
October 25, 2006

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