An unusual cause of small bowel obstruction in the elderly

Abstract

Paraduodenal hernia is an unusual form of internal hernia that results from a congenital midgut malrotation. It is classified as either right or left, depending on anatomic features, and embryologic origin. Left hernias are three times more common than right. Clinical symptoms may be intermittent and non–specific, as nausea, distension and abdominal pain or sometimes acute small bowel obstruction or ischemia. The average age at diagnosis is usually 38 years.

We report a case of right paraduodenal hernia in a 79 years old man admitted to the emergency department with an acute small bowel obstruction.