Uterine Prolapse as a Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction: A Case Report and Literature Review

The etiology of pelvic organ prolapse is multifactorial. Age and parity are especially the two most important risk factors for this condition. Small bowel obstruction is one of the most common clinical presentations to the emergency department that can result in significant morbidity and mortality.

A 79-year-old woman with a previous history of uterine prolapse and no previous history of intraabdominal surgery or malignancies presented with nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation from 2 days ago. Upright and supine x-rays showed dilated small bowel loops and confirmed bowel obstruction. Due to primary obstruction, the patient was a candidate for surgery. During the surgery, we observed that 100 cm of the terminal ileum and the uterus protruded in the vaginal canal and the ileal loops were strangulated. We decided to perform a right hemicolectomy surgery.

In patients with uterine prolapse, we suggest a careful examination and consideration of the entrapment of small bowel loops in the prolapse site as a rare cause of small bowel obstruction.