Preoperative CT Diagnosed Transomental Internal Hernia with Intestinal Obstruction: A case report

ABSTRACT

We report a case of an incarcerated internal hernia which was diagnosed preoperatively by using an abdominal CT scan. An-84-year-old female patient suddenly developed cramping upper abdominal pain after a meal, followed by nausea and vomiting associated with slight abdominal distension. This patient's initial abdominal plain X-ray was interpreted as indicating abdominal free gas. A dilated small bowel loop was revealed based on a late abdominal CT scan, and an internal hernia was suspected. On operation, herniation through defects in the gastrocolic omentum and gastrohepatic ligament was found and was successfully reduced. A jejunal loop internal herniation of this nature is extremely rare, and closed-loop obstructions result to incarceration or strangulation. When abnormal gas is detected at the right upper or the epigastric area in a simple abdominal X-ray. An unusual internal hernia must be a concern, and an abdominal CT scan can be useful for preoperative diagnosis.