Endometriosis causing acute small bowel obstruction: report of a case and review of the literature.

Endometriosis causing acute small bowel obstruction is a clinical complex which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. Theories as to etiology and pathogenesis are discussed. The best clue to preoperative diagnosis of the lesion is a careful history with regard to previous episodes of ileus having menstrual periodicity. The lesion itself usually causes obstruction by kinking or volvulus secondary to serosal adhesion formation, and more rarely by stenosis or intussusception. The treatment of total small bowel obstruction secondary to endometriosis is surgical, with resection of the involved bowel and end-to-end anastomosis.