Post-Traumatic Intra-Cocoon Mesenteric Tear: A Case Report

Sclerosing peritonitis, more commonly called abdominal cocoon, is a rare intra-peritoneal disease that is characterized by complete or partial encapsulation of the small intestine by a thick collagenous membrane. This disease mostly presents in the form of small bowel obstruction, however in our case the patient presented with intra-cocoon bleeding following a motor vehicle accident

Abdominal Cocoon as a Rare Cause of Small Bowel Obstruction in an Elderly Man: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction usually diagnosed incidentally at laparotomy. The cause and pathogenesis of the condition have not been elucidated. It primarily affects adolescent girls living in tropical and subtropical regions. Several earlier cases have been reported in males. We describe an 82-year-old man presenting with small bowel obstruction without history of previous abdominal surgery. He was treated by warfarin following aortic valve replacement. Abdominal cocoon was detected at laparotomy. Excision of membrane and lysis of adhesions led to relief of obstruction. Abdominal cocoon is a rare pathology that may be found in all kinds of populations. It may be a rare form of small bowel obstruction diagnosed during surgery in elderly patients