Cryptorchidism as an obscure cause of adhesive small bowel obstruction in an adult, a case report

Abstract

Introduction and importance Cryptorchidism is seen in 3% of fullterm neonates. Rarely, it may cause small bowel obstruction. Knowledge of this presentation of cryptorchidism is essential to treat bowel obstruction arising due to cryptorchidism before the patient suffers complications. Case presentation We present a case of a patient who underwent exploratory laparotomy for small bowel obstruction that did not resolve with conservative management. At laparotomy, on initial exploration, this patient had adhesive bands causing the small bowel obstruction. On further exploration, the bands were found to arise from a cryptorchid testis. Clinical discussion Cryptorchidism is a common finding among newborns and needs to be corrected by 1 year of age. Failure to correct cryptorchidism in a timely manner can result in complications such as bowel obstruction. Conclusion Thorough intraoperative exploration is key at operation for all cases of small bowel obstruction, so as to find and treat anatomic causes of obstruction. Congenital causes of bowel obstruction should be suspected in all unexplained cases of bowel obstruction and may be revealed by careful physical examination and thorough intraoperative exploration.

Acquired intra abdominal testis due to adhesions after necrotizing enterocolitis

“… 3 Bowel obstruction has been documented to occur from adhesions between the intra-abdominal testis and bowel. 4 In our case retraction of testis was due to adhesions in the sigmoid segment and clearly shows the correlation provoked by NEC and acquired intra abdominal testis. The case we have described here was positioned in the inguinal canal in the first five months, and then ascended into the abdomen due to retraction from adhesions attached to the sigmoid colon ending in the intra abdominal testis.…”

Acquired Intrabdominal Testis Due to Adhesions After Necrotizing Enterocolitis

“…Our case had a mild hypotrophy probably due to hypoperfusion provoked by vascular stretching through the sigmoid segment. About 10% of testicular torsion occurs in UDT, also bowel obstruction has been documented to occur from adhesions between the intra-abdominal testis and bowel [13,14]. Our case clearly shows the correlation between NEC and acquired intra-abdominal testis where adhesions due to NEC attached testis to the sigmoid colon segment and retracted the testis inside the abdominal cavity.…”