Small bowel occlusion due to congenital peritoneal encapsulation treated with laparoscopic resection of the hernia sac: A diagnostic and therapeutic challenge

Abstract

Congenital peritoneal encapsulation (CPE) is an extraordinarily rare condition characterized by an additional peritoneal membrane encasing part or whole of the small intestine. The etiology of CPE, believed to originate from atypical adhesions during fetal mid-gut development, remains uncertain. Clinical presentations involving intestinal obstruction are extremely rare. We report a case of a 39-year-old male of Egyptian origin who presented to our emergency department with abdominal pain and vomiting. Initial abdominal computed tomography scan showed no mechanical obstruction. However, worsening symptoms necessitated laparoscopic exploration, which revealed a mechanical obstruction in the jejunum due to a peritoneal-vessel band and CPE involving the initial segment of the small bowel. The peritoneal fold, encircling the first jejunal loops, was resected up to the Treitz ligament, releasing the jejunum. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative recovery and was discharged on the fourth postoperative day.