ABSTRACT
Small bowel obstruction (SBO) has a variety of etiologies, including but not limited to adhesions, malignancy, hernia, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Treatment for SBO may be nonoperative or operative, depending on the underlying condition and clinical symptoms. Clinical judgment and radiological findings cooperate in formulating an appropriate assessment and treatment plan. Mass effect due to malignancy is an indication for surgical intervention, as tumor resection is a mainstay of treatment. However, patient safety and chances of vascular compromise must be considered when determining if the tumor is resectable. Reported is a case of a 65-year-old female with severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and obstipation due to a malignant neuroendocrine tumor within the mesentery adjacent to the aortic bifurcation. Management included surgical intervention to alleviate bowel obstruction and biopsy of the tumor.
ABSTRACT
Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI), pneumoperitoneum, and ascites are radiographic findings that may be incidental or associated with severe bowel compromise. Asymptomatic patients with benign PI, pneumoperitoneum, or ascites are often observed or treated conservatively. However, these findings are concerning in symptomatic patients and often require surgical consultation and urgent surgical intervention Approximately 15% of PI cases are idiopathic, and 85% are secondary due to an underlying pathology including but not limited to pulmonary disease, autoimmune disease, drug-induced sources, gastrointestinal disease, infectious sources, and iatrogenic sources. A management plan for PI proves challenging to create when the pathogenesis is poorly understood and the presenting clinical picture varies. Reported is a case of a 51-year-old female with severe abdominal pain, PI, pneumoperitoneum, and ascites. Managing a patient presenting this way with surgical intervention is a viable option; however, this patient's management was successful using a conservative approach.
