Inflamed appendicular tourniquet causing mechanical ileal obstruction

Abstract

Mechanical small bowel obstruction secondary to acute appendicitis is a surgical rarity. It is an uncommon complication of a very common disease. We report an unusual case of an inflamed appendix forming a tourniquet around the terminal ileum producing strangulation. A review of the literature reveals only 11 such cases worldwide.

Keywords

• appendix
• tourniquet
• mechanical small bowel obstruction