A late presentation of a left paraduodenal hernia in an elderly patient admitted in emergency: A case report

Abstract

Small bowel internal hernias (IHs), a rare cause of small bowel occlusion (SBO) and small bowel strangulation, while more commonly seen in young adults, can also affect elderly patients and pose a significant diagnostic challenge due to their nonspecific symptoms. In most cases, laparotomy was used to diagnose IHs. However, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is usually the best imaging tool to use in the emergency setting for the diagnosis of IHs. An 83-year-old man was admitted to emergency with acute abdominal pain and a coffee-ground vomitus. The abdominal MDCT showed a clustered-like appearance of proximal jejunal loops at the level of the Treitz ligament with the absence of transit of the medium water-soluble iodine oral contrast agent (Gastrografin). Mesenteric edema was also present with initial suffering of the intestinal wall. A left paraduodenal hernia (LPDH) with strangulation was suspected following the radiological report. The emergency laparotomy revealed about 20 cm of proximal jejunal loops herniated through a 3 cm wide hernia orifice (HO) along the Treitz ligament, at the level of Landzert fossa, located in the confluence of the descending mesocolon, posterior to the inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) and confirming the LPDH. The patient was discharged in good condition some days later. IHs do not have sufficient coverage in literature, especially in cases regarding elderly patients, however, they can be a cause of SBO in people older than 80 years of age. Radiologists and surgeons should be aware of the anatomical aspects of the IHs.

Keywords

• Internal hernia
• Small bowel obstruction
• Emergency, Multidetector computed tomography
• Left paraduodenal hernia
• Emergency laparotomy