Mechanical ileus in a pregnant woman at term pregnancy accompanied by labor pains

Abstract

Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is a rare, but serious complication of pregnancy with significant maternal and fetal mortality. We herein report a case of intestinal strangulation in a pregnant woman with a history of pelvic surgery due to an ectopic pregnancy. Epigastric pain occurred at term pregnancy with concomitant onset of labor pains. The epigastric pain disappeared transiently, and she gave a birth to a healthy child. However, the pain appeared again after the vaginal delivery. She immediately underwent ileo-ileostomy with a diagnosis of mechanical ileus, and the postoperative course was uneventful. Mechanical ileus should be considered when examining epigastric pain in a pregnant woman with a history of abdominal or pelvic surgery even after the onset of labor pains.