Bowel obstruction in a pregnant patient with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Bowel obstruction is a rare but serious complication of pregnancy for both the mother and the developing fetus. This report describes the case of 17-year-old girl with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). She presented at 36 weeks' gestation with a complete small-bowel obstruction. Because conservative management was unsuccessful, labour was induced to relieve the obstruction or simplify surgery. Soon after spontaneous vaginal delivery she began to pass copious amounts of flatus and stool. The bowel obstruction resolved within hours. This report illustrates how IPAA alters the anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract, placing the ileal pouch at risk from compressive obstruction by the gravid uterus. Induction of labour in a near-term fetus is a reasonable initial method of management in such women.