A 63-year-old woman with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) associated with a small hiatal hernia presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and obstructive symptoms that had started 12 hours earlier. The pain was epigastric in nature. She reported no passing of flatus or bowel movement for 24 hours prior to presentation. She also reported a history of intermittent abdominal pain and obstipation that would self-resolve without treatment over the last several years. She had no prior surgical history. Her body mass index was 31. She denied any fever, chills, chest pain, or shortness of breath. Her vitals on presentation included a blood pressure of 110/70 mm Hg, heart rate of 105 beats per minute, and respiratory rate of 22 breathes per minutes. On physical examination, the abdomen was distended with focal tenderness in the epigastric and peri-umbilical regions. No peritoneal signs were noted.\nLaboratory analysis revealed a leukocytosis to 12.9 K/uL (reference range [RR]; 4.0-10.0K/uL) with an elevation in creatinine to 0.8 mg/dL from 0.4 mg/dL (RR; 0.3 -0.6mg/dL). Her blood urea nitrogen level was elevated to 20 mg/dL from 8 mg/dL (RR; 4 – 8 mg/dL). Her lipase, amylase, and liver function tests were within normal limits. Her lactate level was mildly elevated to 3.0 mg/dL (RR; 0.5-1mmol/L).\nA computed tomography (CT) scan of her abdomen and pelvis revealed a right internal hernia containing cecal bascule herniation through the foramen of Winslow into the lesser sac, concerning for a closed-loop obstruction (). There was fecalization with upstream bowel dilation. There was no evidence of pneumoperitoneum, pneumatosis, or bowel wall compromise. A normal appendix was also noted in the right upper quadrant near the gallbladder.\nThe patient’s symptoms including pain, nausea, vomiting, no flatus or bowel movements, along with her leukocytosis and imaging findings were concerning for an internal hernia with a cecal bascule traversing the foramen of Winslow causing a closed-loop obstruction. The patient was taken to the operating room.\nShe underwent an exploratory laparotomy. After fixed retractors were placed, the appendix was noted to be in the right upper quadrant near the gallbladder and liver edge (). The terminal ileum and transverse colon were noted to be tracking behind the portal triad. Upon closer examination, these structures were noted to be involved in an internal hernia with a cecal bascule herniating through the foramen of Winslow. Adhesions were lysed and the hernia sac was partially excised facilitating reduction of the cecal bascule (). The colon was noted to be viable. After reduction, the hernia sac was fully excised. The right colon mesentery was noted to be highly redundant ().\nGiven the viability of the cecum and right colon, the decision was made to perform a cecopexy rather than right hemicolectomy to minimize the risk of a recurrent internal hernia. An appendectomy was also performed. Omentum was placed near the foramen of Winslow to also help prevent future risk of a recurrent internal hernia. No attempt was made at suture closure of the foramen of Winslow space. The abdomen was closed in the standard fashion.\nThe patient’s postoperative course was uncomplicated. Her pain was well-controlled with oral pain medication. Her diet was advanced in a stepwise fashion. She was able to ambulate independently and void spontaneously upon discharge. The patient was discharged 4 days following her operation. She has also been doing well more than 6 months out from surgery.
A 32-year-old female with no previous operation history, presented to the Emergency Department with acutely developed epigastric and right upper quadrant pain with a 5-hour duration. The patient was transferred from a local clinic for proper management of bowel herniation. The abdominal pain was associated with nausea and vomiting. The character of abdominal pain was continuously sharp and squeezing.\nPhysical examination showed direct tenderness without guarding or peritoneal irritation. Bowel sounds were normal with no bowel distention. Laboratory examination was unremarkable except leukocytosis (16,000/µL).\nAbdominal CT performed in a local hospital had revealed a small bowel herniation through the foramen of Winslow (). The patient underwent an urgent exploratory laparoscopy using one 12-mm umbilical port and two 5-mm working ports in the left lateral and right lateral abdominal walls. After pneumoperitoneam was established, we traced the small bowel from the terminal ileum to the Treitz ligament. There was a moderate amount of hemorrhagic fluid in the intraperitoneal cavity. The previously indicated small bowel herniation site by the abdominal CT was not detected. However, severe congestion consisting of about 30 cm of the small bowel was noted in the mid jejunum, suspected to be the impacted lesion. Injured segments of small bowel were extracted through a mini laparotomy made using the extended umbilical port. Segmental resection of the small bowel with side to side anastomosis was performed. After a hemovac was inserted in the perihepatic space, the abdominal wall was closed, and the operation was completed.\nNo complications occurred during the postoperative period. The patient started on a clear liquid diet on postoperative day 4, and was discharged on postoperative day 6. Mucosal ischemic change with submucosal edema was shown on pathologic findings of the resected small bowel. At the first follow-up, the patient reported no complication.