Small bowel diaphragm disease with multiple cluster lesions in one segment of the small bowel mimicking an adhesion band: A case report.

Abstract

Small bowel diaphragm disease (SBDD) is a rare case, caused by long-term administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The circumferential diaphragm in the lumen of small bowel causing mechanical obstruction is the characteristic finding. A 74-year-old male was transferred to Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) due to abdominal pain lasting for 2 months. He was treated in the local medical center (LMC) with Levin tube insertion and Nil Per Os (NPO) but showed no improvement. According to abdomen-pelvis computed tomography (CT) result, small bowel obstruction due to the adhesion band was identified, showing dilatation of the small bowel with abrupt narrowing of the ileum. Laparoscopic exploration was done but failed to find an adhesion band. An investigation of the whole small bowel was done with mini-laparotomy. At the transitional zone, the intraluminal air could not pass so the segmental resection of small bowel including the transitional zone and end-to-end anastomosis was done. After surgery, every laboratory finding recovered to the normal range in 4 days, but the patient's ileus lasted for 8 days. The patient's symptoms were relieved after defecation, he was discharged on postoperative day 10. For patients who show mechanical obstruction without an operation history but with long-term administration of NSAIDs, the clinicians should suspect small bowel diaphragm disease.