Persistent omphalomesenteric duct causing small bowel obstruction in children.

Background: Small bowel obstruction is a common surgical emergency and a frequently encountered problem in abdominal surgery, but persistent omphalomesenteric duct as a cause of this condition is an exceptional finding.

Aim: To report through this observation an omphalomesenteric duct causing small bowel obstruction in children.

Report: A 10-years-old male patient without medical history, and specially without umbilical secretion or umbilicoileal fistula, presented with colicky abdominal pain, vomiting, absence of passage of gas and feces, and abdominal distension of 24 hours duration. Physical examination and blood tests were normal. Abdominal X-ray showed small bowel obstruction. In exploratory laparotomy, persistent omphalomesenteric duct (10cm) causing volvulus of small bowel was identified and resected. The patient had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the 5th postoperative day.

Conclusion: Although persistent omphalomesenteric duct is an extremely infrequent cause of small bowel obstruction in children patients. The practitioner has to think of this etiology in front of every patient without surgical histories presenting an occlusive syndrome to avoid the complications: occlusion and hemorrhage.