Small bowel obstruction secondary to endometriosis in a 30-year-old nulliparous woman managed at a level-5 private hospital in Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Endometriosis is characterized by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and is commonly seen in young women. Intestinal obstruction from endometriosis is rare. We present the case of a 30-year-old nulliparous woman who presented with generalized abdominal pain and vomiting. She was diagnosed with ileocaecal and appendiceal obstruction caused by a mass. A right hemicolectomy with ileocolic anastomosis was successfully performed. Histopathological examination confirmed endometrial tissue in the appendix and ileocaecal wall. Endometriosis should be considered as a cause of bowel obstruction in premenopausal women. The management of intestinal endometriosis consists of hormonal therapy in uncomplicated cases and surgery in cases associated with bowel obstruction.