A Case of Dietary Bowel Obstruction Diagnosed During Laparoscopic Surgery for Adhesive Bowel Obstruction

Abstract

A 61–year–old woman was admitted to our hospital with a abdominal pain. She was diagnosed as having bowel obstruction caused by adhesions, based on the previous history of abdominal surgery and findings on abdominal computed tomography. She was treated with an ileus tube. However, her condition worsened, and emergency surgery was performed. Intraoperatively, laparoscopic examination revealed that the small intestine was occluded by an adhesion band. At mini–laparotomy, however, the ileum was found to be occupied by a mass, which was identified as a potato; therefore, the final diagnosis was dietary bowel obstruction. We encountered a case of dietary bowel obstruction that was diagnosed preoperatively as bowel obstruction caused by adhesions. We suggest examination of the intestine by mini–laparotomy is useful during laparoscopic bowel obstruction surgery.