A Case of Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by Intestinal Endometriosis / 계명의대학술지

ABSTRACT

Endometriosis is a common disease affecting females of reproductive age. Intestinal involvement has been estimated to occur in 15% to 37% of females with endometriosis. Unlike endometriosis of large intestine, it is very rare for the condition to manifest as small bowel obstruction caused by intestinal endometriosis. Preoperative diagnosis of intestinal endometriosis is very difficult. This disorder should be considered in the differential diagnosis of females of child-bearing age with symptoms of bowel obstruction. We report a 44-year-old woman who presented with symptoms and signs of acute small bowel obstruction. A segmental resection of the small bowel was performed with end to end anastomosis. Pathologic examination demonstrated acute small bowel obstruction secondary to intestinal endometriosis. The patient died on the second day after the surgery because her condition worsened. Intestinal endometriosis also should be included in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction for the prompt treatment.