Small Bowel Obstruction Caused by Type IV Hiatal Hernia

Abstract

Type IV hiatal hernia of the esophagus is characterized by herniation of the stomach and associated organs, such as the spleen, large and small bowel, and pancreas, through the esophageal hiatus. It is a relatively rare form of hiatal hernia that sometimes requires emergency surgery due to gastric incarceration, volvulus, and strangulation. Of these, small bowel obstruction is extremely rare and requires surgery. We report the case of an 83-year-old woman who was admitted to the hospital for small bowel obstruction caused by an ileum that had incarcerated the esophageal hiatus; emergency laparoscopic surgery was performed.