Congenital thickening and shortening of the round ligament of the liver causing gastric outlet obstruction

Abstract

This report describes a case of congenital thickening and shortening of the round ligament of the liver, a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction. There are few published cases in the literature and these were generally diagnosed at a late stage and were mostly among adults. The patient underwent exploratory laparotomy, which showed gastric compression in the distal antrum, close to the pylorus, caused by the round ligament, which was shortened and thickened. The round ligament was suture ligated and divided, and the patient's symptoms resolved. Comments on this abnormality and its rarity are presented.