Small Bowel Obstruction by Broad Ligament Hernia: Three Case Reports, Management and Outcomes

Internal hernias are a rare cause of bowel obstruction (1%) and can be caused by broad ligament defects in 4% to 7% of the cases. These defects may be congenital or acquired and are classified according to its anatomical location. This paper reports three cases of small bowel obstruction by broad ligament hernia. The patients, three women aged from 35 to 51 years old, were admitted to the emergency department with small bowel obstruction. An exploratory laparotomy was performed during which an internal hernia through a broad ligament defect was identified. In all cases the hernia content was reduced and the defect closed. One of the patients required a segmental enterectomy. All patients had a favorable outcome. This paper aims to raise awareness about the broad ligament hernia as a cause of bowel obstruction, namely in middle-aged women with no surgical history.

Herniation of Small Bowel Loop through a Broad Ligament Defect Masquerading as Torsion of Ovarian Cyst

Torsion of ovarian cyst is a common cause of acute abdomen especially in women of reproductive age-group. It commonly presents with colicky abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. It could however mimic acute intestinal obstruction. The patient was a 32-year-old multipara with no previous history of pelvic or abdominal surgery. She was admitted with colicky lower abdominal pain associated with repeated episodes of vomiting and nausea. Laboratory investigations were essentially normal. Abdominopelvic USS showed a hypoechoic mass lesion in the left adnexium measuring 7.1 × 5.5 cm; surrounding bowel loops were hypoactive, dilated, and fluid filled. Diagnosis of acute abdomen secondary to suspected torsion of ovarian cyst was made. Management began for acute abdomen with intravenous hydration, prophylactic antibiotics, and analgesics. An emergency laparotomy revealed about 6 cm defect in the left broad ligament in which a 20 cm segment of terminal ileum was encased. Liberation of the ileal segment was done and the broad ligament defect closed. Bowel obstruction requires high index of suspicion in a patient with acute abdomen due to suspected torsion ovarian cyst most especially in the absence of previous pelvic or abdominal surgery.