Acute appendicitis causing small bowel obstruction: a rare cause of mechanical obstruction.

Abstract

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common cause of acute abdominal pain, typically resulting from adhesions, hernias, or malignancy. Appendicitis is a rare etiology of mechanical SBO, with less than 50 cases documented in the literature. We report the case of a 66-year-old woman who presented with severe abdominal pain and vomiting. Computed tomography imaging revealed a closed-loop SBO with two transition points in the right lower quadrant and associated mesenteric congestion. Although the appendix appeared unremarkable on imaging, diagnostic laparoscopy identified an inflamed appendix forming a band encircling the small bowel, resulting in mechanical obstruction. A laparoscopic appendectomy was performed, with complete resolution of the obstruction. This case highlights a rare but important cause of SBO and emphasizes the role of early surgical intervention and diagnostic laparoscopy in identifying unusual intra-abdominal pathologies.