Congenital transmesenteric hernia without bowel strangulation in a young adult

Abstract

Congenital internal hernia is a rare cause of bowel obstruction in adults and often presents with complications. A high index of suspicion, occasionally aided by appropriate radiological imaging, should lead to early surgical intervention and thus reduce morbidity and mortality. In this article, we describe a case of a 27-year-old man who presented with periumbilical and right lower quadrant pain. The patient who had undergone surgery for appendicitis was found to have an incidental mesenteric defect with herniating 30 cm-long small bowel segment on exploration. The mesenteric defect was repaired and the herniated bowel segment was reduced to prevent volvulus. The patient made an uneventful recovery.