Case Report: Delayed Presentation of Bowel Obstruction Caused by Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Abstract

Introduction: Bowel obstruction is a rare but well reported complication of blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). Obstruction is most often seen acutely caused by bowel wall hematomas and chronically as a result of post-traumatic strictures. Here, we present a novel case of BAT causing a subacute obstructing bowel wall hematoma. Case Report: A healthy, 32-year-old male presented to our emergency department with three days of nausea and vomiting. Chart review revealed he had been seen two weeks prior after a high-speed motor vehicle collision. During that initial visit, the patient had a benign abdominal exam and was discharged without imaging. On this return visit, the patient was found to have a large, obstructing colonic hematoma. Conclusion: Because emergency physicians care for patients in both the acute and subacute phases of trauma, clinicians should recognize the more subtle sequelae of BAT.

Traumatic Intramural Jejunal Hematoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature

“…However, the inherent peril, in this approach is the risk of expansion of hematoma, leading to the loss of a functional segment of the jejunum. The natural history of healing by fibrosis may result in a stiff bowel wall or stricture following conservative non-surgical management [ 7 ]. Hematoma involving a large segment of the bowel and expanding hematoma thus may be considered as indications of surgical intervention, especially in the pediatric age group, where the loss of functional bowel length, either immediate or in the future due to fibrosis of hematoma is a major concern.…”

Chronic constipation and acute small bowel obstruction due to small bowel encapsulation: A case report

“…1 However, SBO has another unusual cause, such as a foreign body or has been occurred post-traumatic. [4][5][6] Congenital peritoneal encapsulation (CPE) is a congenitally scarce condition where the accessory peritoneal membrane is encapsulated the small bowel. 7 Other syndromes with small bowel encapsulation are abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS) and sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP).…”

“…Remainder causes include small bowel tumors, Crohn disease, and others 1 . However, SBO has another unusual cause, such as a foreign body or has been occurred post‐traumatic 4–6 …”