Small bowel necrosis during pregnancy due to idiopathic internal hernia

Internal hernia is a rare surgical complication, which can result in intestinal obstruction. The following case describes a small intestine herniation through idiopathic mesocolon defect in a pregnant woman at gestational week 26. Because of severe abdominal pain and sepsis, the patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy during which a 50-cm necrotic bowel segment was resected. Recovery was uneventful, and 5 weeks later, at gestational week 31, a healthy newborn was delivered spontaneously. When bowel obstruction is suspected in pregnant woman, it calls for an early intervention because of high risk of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality.