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Uncomplicated small bowel obstruction in pregnancy (MRI)

Case contributed by Andrew Plumb
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

30/40 pregnant. Acute abdominal pain and vomiting.

Patient Data

Gender: Female

Small volume of free fluid throughout the abdomen and pelvis. Multiple fluid-filled dilated loops of small bowel clustered in the left upper quadrant, with heterogeneous content of the distal-most segment of dilated bowel indicating luminal content stasis. Beak-like abrupt transition point into collapsed distal small bowel just left lateral to the uterus. Findings are consistent with small bowel obstruction, likely secondary to band adhesion. Non-distended large bowel.

Case Discussion

At surgery, the adhesional band divided and there was an uneventful recovery.

(Case uploaded with the assistance of Vikas Shah)

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