A rare case of small-bowel obstruction due to broad ligament herniation

Small-bowel obstruction is a common cause of acute abdomen throughout the world. Internal hernia as the cause of small-bowel obstruction is exceedingly rare and accounts for only about 1% of all acute obstructions. Of this, a very small fraction may occur through defects in the broad ligament, whether congenital or iatrogenic. The symptomatology is consistent with that of small-bowel obstruction due to any other cause rendering preoperative diagnosis extremely difficult. Most cases are recognized intraoperatively. The complications are dreaded, as bowel gangrene and perforation secondary to prolonged herniation are well documented. A high index of suspicion is, thus, needed. In this case report, we present a patient of jejunal loop herniation into broad ligament who presented with acute intestinal obstruction.