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Editor's quiz: GI Snapshot
An unusual case of bowel obstruction
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  1. I Rosa1,
  2. J Serpaggi1,
  3. I Delacroix1,
  4. H Hagège1,
  5. M Chousterman1,
  6. I Bitar2,
  7. P Cabanis2,
  8. B Poulet3,
  9. I A B D Alsamad3
  1. 1Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatogastroenterology, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, 94 010 Créteil, France
  2. 2Department of Surgery, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, 94 010 Créteil, France
  3. 3Department of Anatomopathology, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, 94 010 Créteil, France
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr Isabelle Rosa
    Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatogastroenterology, Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil, 94 010 Créteil, France; e-mail: isabelle.rosachicreteil.fr

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.2003.028951

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    Clinical presentation

    A healthy 81 year old man was referred to us for acute bowel obstruction. The patient did not have a history of chronic illness and was not taking any medication.

    On admission, the patient had diffuse abdominal pain, vomiting, and no bowel movements for 24 hours. There was no fever. Clinical examination showed abdominal distension without any contracture or palpable mass. Laboratory data were as follows: leucocyte count 11000/mm3 and haemoglobin level 15 g/dl. C reactive protein concentration was increased to 235 mg/l. Hepatic function tests and amylasemia were normal. Abdominal x ray showed small bowel distension with hydroaeric levels (Image 1). Small bowel barium through enema was performed and the results are shown below.

    Question

    What does this x ray show?

    See page 979 for answer

    This case is submitted by:

    Image 1
    Image 1

     Abdominal x ray showing small bowel distension with hydroaeric levels.

    Linked Articles

    • Editor's quiz: GI Snapshot
      Editor’s quiz: GI Snapshot
      BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology
      Gut 2004; 53 979-979 Published Online First: 11 Jun 2004. doi: 10.1136/gut.2003.28951a