Expect the Unexpected: Bowel Obstruction Caused by <i>Taenia saginata</i>: A Case Report of Unusual Complications

Abstract

Background: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common gastrointestinal condition often warranting acute surgical intervention. In human, tapeworm species can cause a parasitic infection by ingestion of raw or under cooked beef (T. saginata) or pork (T. solium and T. asiatica). Taeniasis usually presents with vague symptoms or mild abdominal pain and discomfort. The intestinal complications are not commonly mentioned in the literatures. Case presentation: We present 65-year-old Egyptian woman who lives in Oman, who is known to have type two diabetes mellitus and hypertension. She presented to Emergency department with abdominal pain and constipation for a period of three days. On examination, she was dehydrated with tachycardia (pulse rate: 110/minute) blood pressure of 100/60 mmHg and patient was afebrile. Abdominal examination revealed, mildly distended abdomen and tense, no guarding or rigidity no palpable mass, exaggerated bowel sound and rectum is empty on per rectal examination. Emergency laparotomy was performed with intra-operative findings of large foreign body impacted in the distal jejunum about 8 × 3 cm, cylinder in shape completely obliterating the lumen, distal loops was collapsed. Conclusion: Although Taeniasis is a very rare infection, index of suspicion such as a potential in the differential diagnosis as cause of an acute abdomen with unusual surgical complications should be considered. The diagnosis of these rare circumstances is usually made intraoperatively, and surgery is recommended only for the treatment of complications.