Small bowel obstruction due to encapsulation and abnormal artery.

A case of peritoneal encapsulation is reported. Of fourteen reported and two anecdotal cases, this is the third case with small bowel obstruction. Bowel malrotation is associated with the condition and in our case an abnormal artery was the cause of obstruction. We support previous authors' suggestions that, if the condition is found incidentally at laparatomy, it should be treated surgically by excision of the peritoneal sac and division of any tight band.