Yuta Shibasaki1, Makoto Sohda2, Hiroomi Ogawa1, Chika Katayama1, Naoya Ozawa1, Chika Komine1, Kunihiko Suga1, Katsuya Osone1, Takuhisa Okada1, Takuya Shiraishi1, Ryuji Katoh1, Takehiko Yokobori1,3, Akihiko Sano1, Makoto Sakai1, Ken Shirabe1, Hiroshi Saeki1. 1. Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. 2. Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan. msohda@gunma-u.ac.jp. 3. Innovative Medical Research Center, Gunma University Hospital, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, 3-39-22 Showa-Machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chlamydial infection is a difficult-to-diagnose type of sexually transmitted disease that occurs mainly in young people. We report a case of bowel obstruction caused by intrapelvic adhesions formed by chlamydial infection. CASE PRESENTATION: This patient was a 23-year-old woman who had been suffering from acute abdominal pain. She had been previously treated several times for intrapelvic abscesses and had a history of chlamydial infection. Endometriosis was thought to be the cause of her pelvic abscess based on endoscopic findings. Computed tomography demonstrated a small bowel obstruction caused by a pelvic abscess. However, the diagnosis could not be confirmed. She underwent laparoscopic surgery and was diagnosed with bowel obstruction due to adhesion of chlamydial infection based on the intraoperative findings and Chlamydia trachomatis antibody test. She was discharged 5 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to consider the possibility of chlamydial infection as a cause for lower abdominal pain and unexplained bowel obstruction in female patients.
BACKGROUND: Chlamydial infection is a difficult-to-diagnose type of sexually transmitted disease that occurs mainly in young people. We report a case of bowel obstruction caused by intrapelvic adhesions formed by chlamydial infection. CASE PRESENTATION: This patient was a 23-year-old woman who had been suffering from acute abdominal pain. She had been previously treated several times for intrapelvic abscesses and had a history of chlamydial infection. Endometriosis was thought to be the cause of her pelvic abscess based on endoscopic findings. Computed tomography demonstrated a small bowel obstruction caused by a pelvic abscess. However, the diagnosis could not be confirmed. She underwent laparoscopic surgery and was diagnosed with bowel obstruction due to adhesion of chlamydial infection based on the intraoperative findings and Chlamydia trachomatis antibody test. She was discharged 5 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to consider the possibility of chlamydial infection as a cause for lower abdominal pain and unexplained bowel obstruction in female patients.