ABSTRACT
We report a case of acute small bowel obstruction occurring secondary to endometriosis of the terminal ileum. Ileal endometriosis is a rare condition that can cause acute small bowel obstruction. As this cse and others in the literture highlight, establishing a preoperative diagnosis is very difficult due to the vagueness of symptoms and similarity in presentation to other causes of obstruction, and is based on a high index of suspicion. However, this disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of women of child-bearing age who present with symptoms of obstruction. The definiteve treatment includes resection of the involved segment with primary anastomosis, and adjuvant hormonal therapy may prevent recurrence. VATER association is an acronym for the fllowing non-random association of defects: Vertebral defects, Anal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula with Esophageal atresia, and Renal or Radial defects. VACTERL association is an expanded acronym to include Cardiac defects and Limb defects. Diagnosis of VACTERL association is made if theree out of seven above defects are present in an infant. The incidence is estimated to be 1.6 cases in 10,000 live births.