INTERNAL HERNIA DURING PREGNANCY DUE TO ANOMALOUS OPENING IN THE FALCIFORM LIGAMENT

Intestinal obstruction is a rare complication during pregnancy, and almost all causes are considered to be secondary adhesions in a patient with a surgical history. During pregnancy, there have been only a few reported cases of internal hernia. An internal hernia is formed by the protrusion of a viscus through a peritoneal fossae or anomalous opening in the mesentery leading to its encapsulation within a compartment of the abdominal cavity. The difficulty of diagnosis of the disease associated with pregnancy which limits diagnostic investigation also brings a dangerous combination of bowel obstruction. We present a case of internal hernia caused by anomalous opening in the falciform ligament in a pregnant woman of the 37th week of gestation. She underwent a cesarean section, followed by lapalotomy which revealed intestinal obstruction through the opening in the ligament falciform. The ligament was divided and 40cm of the small intestine was resected. In patients with symptoms suggestive of bowel obstruction during pregnancy, internal hernia must be included in the probable differential diagnoses.