Small Bowel Necrosis During Pregnancy Due to Idiopathic Internal Hernia

In Brief Internal hernia is a rare surgical complication, which can result in intestinal obstruction. The following case describes a small intestine herniation through idiopathic mesocolon defect in a pregnant woman at gestational week 26. Because of severe abdominal pain and sepsis, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy during which a 50-cm necrotic bowel segment was resected. Recovery was uneventful, and 5 weeks later, at gestational week 31, a healthy newborn was delivered spontaneously. When bowel obstruction is suspected in pregnant woman, it calls for an early intervention because of high risk of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Internal hernia should be included in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction during pregnancy; early intervention is crucial because of high risk of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.