A Case Report of Gangrenous Small Bowel Obstruction in an Antenatal Women

Gangrenous intestinal obstruction during pregnancy is a rare and life-threatening non-obstetric surgical emergency that may result in maternal and fetal mortality.These patients were often confronted with a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge since the condition is rare and overlapping of symptoms occurs.It also raises concerns over radiological evaluation and the risk involved with surgery and anaesthesia.The diagnosis is delayed due to common and overlapping symptoms and also inhibition to carry out ionising radiological investigations in pregnancy which could be harmful to the fetus.Antenatal women, 29 years old at 28 weeks of gestation presented with abdominal pain and fever.Ultrasound done immediately showed adherence of small bowel loops suggestive of intestinal obstruction.She was taken up for emergency laparotomy and proceeded with resection of the gangrenous segment completed with anastomosis.The postoperative period was uneventful.The patient was stable on discharge.Prompt diagnosis should be made and the appropriate treatment should be taken as soon as possible.Surgical intervention should be taken if necessary as earlier diagnosis and management decreases morbidity and mortality.