A 47-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with generalized abdominal pain for a duration of four days. The pain was intermittent and colicky in nature with a mild response to analgesia. It was associated with vomiting and abdominal distension, with absolute constipation. The patient denied experiencing a similar previous attack. Her medical and surgical histories were unremarkable, and she reported only having an irregular menstrual cycle. She also reported no history of trauma.\nUpon physical examination, the patient was found to have stable vital signs: temperature, 36.7°C; heart rate, 88 beats per minute; and oxygen saturation, 100% room air. An abdominal examination revealed mild abdominal distention with generalized tenderness but no guarding or rigidity; the abdomen was tympanic to percussion, and a digital rectal examination was unremarkable. A provisional diagnosis was made for intestinal obstruction.\nLaboratory investigations, including a complete blood count, urea and analysis, and coagulation profile, were all within normal limits. An abdominal X-ray showed a dilated large bowel with few air fluid levels, no gas in the rectum and no air under the diaphragm (Fig. ). An abdominal CT scan with oral and intravenous contrast showed that the cecum was flipped superiorly and positioned anteriorly to the transverse colon, and it herniated into the foramen of Winslow (opening between the inferior vena cava and portal vein). The cecum occupied the lesser sac, and it was distended with gas and caused a mass effect on the stomach and hepatic root, with associated intrahepatic bile duct dilatation. This was associated with proximal small bowel dilatation and collapsed large bowel loops distally (Fig. ). These findings were consistent with an obstructive internal hernia into the lesser sac through the foramen of Winslow.\nA surgical consultation was requested, and laparoscopic assisted internal hernia reduction with ileocecal resection and side-to-side anastomosis were offered. The cecum and terminal ileum, along with the appendix, had herniated through the foramen of Winslow as evidenced during laparoscopy (Video 1). Both the cecum and terminal ileum were markedly distended and probably less vascularized (Fig. ). Consequently, the cecum and terminal ileum were resected (Fig. ).\nThe patient’s postoperative was uneventful. She was started on a clear liquid diet and then advanced to solid foods by Day 2. The patient was discharged, and she did not show any signs or symptoms suggestive of complications or recurrence during the last follow-up.
An 80-year-old female with past medical history of Crohn’s disease (diagnosed in 1998 and managed with Adalimumab) and no prior abdominal surgical history who presented with 1-day history of severe epigastric pain associated with nausea and emesis. Her last colonoscopy was 3 years ago (unremarkable), and last Crohn’s flare was a 1 year beforehand. On examination, patient’s abdomen was soft with severe epigastric tenderness and an appreciable bulge. Labs showed normal lactate (1.1) but mild leukocytosis of 12.5 and no other gross lab abnormalities. Patient underwent computed tomography (CT) scan of abdomen and pelvis which showed a transverse colon herniating through the FOW and causing a closed-loop obstruction (–). Patient was immediately decompressed with a nasogastric tube and was emergently taken to the operating room for a diagnostic laparoscopy. Intraoperatively, the transverse colon was noted to have herniated through the FOW into the lesser sac. The incarcerated transverse colon appeared immensely dilated and hyperemic. With careful traction and gentle counter pressure, the transverse colon was completely reduced from the FOW back into the abdominal cavity. On inspection after reduction, the small and large bowel appeared grossly viable and well-vascularized along with adequate peristalsis. The FOW was closed with 2-0 ethibond running suture by suturing the peritoneum adjacent to the portal triad down to the retroperitoneum just lateral to the inferior vena cava. The patient tolerated the procedure very well and brought to the recovery room in stable condition. Postoperatively, the patient did very well. On postoperative Day 1, the patient was discharged home. Subsequently, the patient was seen in the office on postoperative follow-up Day 7 and was found to be doing well with no complaints.