A transmesenteric hernia in a child: gangrene of a long segment of small bowel through a large mesenteric defect

Korean J Gastroenterol. 2009 May;53(5):320-3. doi: 10.4166/kjg.2009.53.5.320.

Abstract

Intestinal obstruction is a common surgical emergency. Transmesenteric hernia is an unusual cause of bowel obstruction that may result in irreversible damage of the bowel and a fatal outcome. Once incarceration of the bowel occurs, strangulation and gangrene follow immediately. The mortality rate associated with this condition is about 15%, but in the presence of gangrene of the bowel, the mortality rate is more than 50%. An accurate preoperative diagnosis of a transmesenteric hernia is very difficult and rarely made. Therefore, in patients with small bowel obstruction, in the absence of a history of previous surgery to suggest adhesions or an external hernia, the possibility of a transmesenteric hernia must be considered. We describe a case with gangrene of a long segment of the small bowel caused by a transmesenteric hernia through a large defect of small bowel mesentery in a child.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Retracted Publication

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Gangrene
  • Hernia / complications
  • Hernia / diagnosis*
  • Hernia / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Ileal Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Ileal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Ileal Diseases / surgery
  • Intestinal Obstruction / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Intestine, Small / surgery
  • Mesentery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed