Midgut malrotation complicated by small bowel obstruction in an 80-year-old woman: A case report

Malrotation in an Adult Patient With Pneumoperitoneum Following Nissen-Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Case Report

Intestinal malrotation is typically encountered in the first year of life and is rarely seen in adult populations. Herein, we present the case of a 48-year-old woman with a surgical history of laparoscopic Nissen-sleeve gastrectomy before 11 months who was referred to the general surgery service after presenting to the emergency department with acute epigastric abdominal pain for one-day duration. Radiography and a computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen revealed a large pneumoperitoneum. Subsequently, a diagnostic laparoscopy was performed, which detected a sealed perforation in the fundus of the wrapped-sleeved stomach, along with an incidental finding of intestinal malrotation. The encountered variation of anatomy created an intraoperative challenge during the conversion from Nissen-Sleeve gastrectomy to single anastomosis gastric bypass. The diagnosis of intestinal malrotation in adults is often overlooked, posing substantial diagnostic and management challenges when encountered.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal midgut volvulus: a case report

BACKGROUND

Fetal midgut volvulus is an uncommon yet potentially life-threatening condition. Prenatal diagnosis may pose a challenge, due to the paucity of specific signs and symptoms. Timely prenatal diagnosis of this condition is imperative to prevent fetal mortality and morbidity.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a rare case report of fetal midgut volvulus, malrotation, and intestinal obstruction at 32 weeks of gestation in a 31-year-old multigravida Indian patient who presented with decreased fetal movements. Fetal ultrasound revealed midgut volvulus with proximal bowel obstruction and polyhydramnios. The patient underwent emergency surgery, which revealed intestinal malrotation and confirmed the diagnosis of midgut volvulus. Untwisting of the volvulus was done followed by Ladd's procedure. Follow-up postoperative ultrasound was unremarkable.

CONCLUSIONS

Delay in the diagnosis of fetal midgut volvulus leads to poor fetal and maternal outcomes. Hence, it is vital for radiologists, sonologists, and obstetricians to be aware of this condition while performing fetal sonography. Prompt diagnosis and surgical intervention are vital to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.

Duodenal Obstruction during Pregnancy

Intractable vomiting and elevated liver enzymes during pregnancy seem to be associated to the obstetric etiologies; however, other causes such as acute surgical emergencies should be considered. The patient was a 26-year-old woman at 18 weeks of gestation with intractable vomiting, intolerability of oral intake, weight loss, and absence of abdominal pain. Her physical examinations and laboratory tests had no remarkable findings except elevated liver function test (LFT) and hypokalemia. Considering the lab data and normal abdominopelvic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging was performed which revealed dilation of the D1-3 and collapse the D4 sections of duodenum. She underwent exploratory laparotomy which confirmed duodenal obstruction caused by Ladd's band. After the Ladd's operation, the patient started oral intake of nutritious, and her LFT decreased to normal ranges. After the last follow-up, she has had gained 18 kg and gave birth at 36 weeks of gestation due to the premature rapture of membranes and delivered a 2 kg small for gestational age otherwise healthy infant. The experience gained from this case was to consider all possibilities (such as small bowel obstruction) and evaluate them in a pregnant patient to consider other causes of nausea, vomiting, and abnormal LFTs in a pregnant patient.