CT of Acute Abdomen

Special Edition of Obstruction1 EXPERT COURSE Answer [ObE Case 4]

Simple small bowel obstruction due to food bolus(devil's-tongue jelly) impaction








Almost-collapsed ascending colon (Ac), cecum (Ce) and terminal ileum (Ti) in Fig.5-Fig.8 strongly suggest that the distended small bowel is due to mechanical obstruction. Though distended small bowel is gasless, findings of no ascites in of Fig.1 and pelvic cavity of Fig.17-Fig.21, and no mesenteric stranding are in favor of simple obstruction. Contents (black arrow) of Fig.8-Fig.12 are food residue called "small bowel feces", and often indicate a site of simple obstruction. On the one hand, small bowel begins to distend from 1 of Fig.13, and progresses in number order, on the other, collapsed A of Fig.10 progresses in alphabetical order, and connects to terminal ileum (Ti). ab of Fig.13 is divided into a and b, and ascend, and cd of Fig.8 ascend likewise. Absence of another obstruction site in the neighborhood of "small bowel feces" indicates simple obstruction. A of Fig.10 and B of Fig.11 of obstruction site do not show neoplastic lesion, intussusception or compression from outside and no abdominal surgery in the past may suggest possibility of food bolus impaction as a cause. Under conservative treatment symptoms disappeared on the next day.














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