Small bowel obstruction in early pregnancy: A case report.

Jeon, Hyun Soo; Kim, Hyun Jun; Choi, Young Chil; Lee, Tae Ui; Chung, Doo Yong

Case Report

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2009;52(5):565-570.
Published online May 1, 2009.

Small bowel obstruction in early pregnancy: A case report.

Hyun Soo Jeon, Hyun Jun Kim, Young Chil Choi, Tae Ui Lee, Doo Yong Chung

¹Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju Hospital, Chungju, Korea. dychung@kku.ac.kr
²Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju Hospital, Chungju, Korea.
³Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Konkuk University, Chungju Hospital, Chungju, Korea.

Abstract

Intestinal obstruction occurs rarely as a cause of acute abdominal pain during pregnancy. It is very difficult to make diagnosis, as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are commonly associated with pregnancy, and X-rays are avoided if possible. However, delayed diagnosis can cause intestinal strangulation, which results in a high incidence of maternal morbidity, mortality, premature labor, and fetal loss. The incidence of intestinal obstruction seems to increase at the time of rapid uterine size changes such as between 16~20 weeks, 32~36 weeks or even in the puerperium. The possibility of intestinal obstruction must always be kept in mind when a pregnant woman with an operation scar on her abdomen develops abdominal pain. We present a case of small bowel obstruction during early pregnancy with a brief review of the literature who had the history of right salpingo-oophorectomy and appendectomy operation

Key Words: Acute abdomen, Bowel obstruction, Pregnancy