Internal Hernia through a Congenital Peritoneal Defect in the Pouch of Douglas causing Small Bowel Obstruction

Abstract

An internal hernia is defined as the protrusion of visceral content, most commonly the small bowel, through a normal or abnormal peritoneal or mesenteric aperture within the abdominal cavity and the pelvis. An internal hernia may either be congenital or acquired in aetiology. These hernias can trap and/or twist small bowel, resulting in bowel obstruction. We herein describe an extremely rare case of a young female who presented with small bowel obstruction secondary to an incarcerated internal hernia caused by a peritoneal defect in the pouch of Douglas.