A Case of Anorexia Cured by Ladd Operation for Intestinal Malrotation Diagnosed during Surgery

Abstract

A 48-year-old woman had been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, and had been suffering from appetite loss, abdominal distention, and constipation for 30 years. She had been receiving psychosomatic treatment. This time, she suddenly developed strangulation ileus and underwent emergency surgery. During the procedure, axis rotation from ileum to cecum was observed, with intestinal necrosis and perforation of terminal ileum. Intestinal malrotation and duodenal stenosis due to formation of Ladd's bands were also observed. In addition to ileocecal resection, the Ladd procedure was performed to correct the stenosis. At the 18-month follow-up post-surgery, her chronic complaints disappeared and her nutritional status had markedly improved. This case was valuable in that chronic appetite loss and abdominal distention that had been diagnosed as anorexia nervosa were caused by intestinal malrotation in actuality.