CONGENITAL INTESTINAL MALROTATION CAUSING GESTATIONAL INTESTINAL-OBSTRUCTION - A CASE-REPORT

BACKGROUND: Intestinal obstruction in pregnancy is rare. The mortality rate is higher during pregnancy than in the general population and ap plies to fetal as well as maternal survival. Major causes of intestina l obstruction in the pregnant women include adhesions, volvulus and in tussusception. CASE: A 27-year-old woman, gravida 2, para 1, estimated gestational age approximately 26 weeks, with a high-level, complete s mall bowel obstruction. The patient failed a trial of conservative man agement and required laparotomy, at which time a congenital malrotatio n was found. She was treated successfully with a modified Ladd's proce dure. There was no maternal or fetal morbidity. CONCLUSION: This case represents an extremely rare cause of bowel obstruction in pregnancy; a paucity of such cases have been reported.