Idiopathic Post-Partum Intussusception: A Case Report

Elroy Patrick Weledji and Andre Wambo Simo

Department of Surgery, University of Buea, Cameroon
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Buea, Cameroon

^*Correspondance to: Elroy Patrick Weledji 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2603

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic post-partum intussusception is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain and the Aetiology is unknown. As the post-partum acute abdomen provides diagnostic challenges, the rare idiopathic post-partum intussusception would be an extremely difficult pre-operative diagnosis without a high level of suspicion or imaging. Case Presentation: A 25-year- old black African woman presented with a gradual onset abdominal pain and vomiting of 5 days duration, post-vaginal delivery. A diagnosis of small bowel obstruction was made and she was resuscitated with intravenous hydration and nasogastric suction. An abdominal ultrasound 72 h from admission revealed intestinal intussusception as the cause. A laparotomy confirmed an ileo-ileal intussusception with no lead point. Following reduction, resection of a 30cm gangrenous ileum with primary anastomosis of viable ends was undertaken. Conclusion: The case highlights the importance of assessing abdominal pain in the puerperium in a similar manner to that done in a non-pregnant state, to avoid delay in diagnosis.

Keywords

Idiopathic; Intussusception; Peripartum

Cite the article

Weledji EP, Simo AW. Idiopathic Post-Partum Intussusception: A Case Report. Clin Surg. 2019; 4: 2603.