Abdominal cocoon associated with endometriosis

Santos VM, Barbosa Junior ER, Lima SHM, Porto AS
Correspondence: Prof Vitorino Modesto dos Santos, vitorinomodesto@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
Abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in adults. Diagnosis is usually established at laparotomy in patients with recurrent attacks of non-strangulating small bowel obstruction. A 40-year-old infertile Brazilian woman with intestinal obstruction and massive haemoserous ascites, due to coexistent ovarian endometriosis and abdominal cocoon, is reported. Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and a palpable mass, in addition to imaging of small bowel obstruction and thickened peritoneum, raised diagnostic suspicion. Higher awareness allows for early diagnoses and yields better results during management.

Keywords: abdominal cocoon, ascites, endometriosis, haemoserous ascites, intestinal obstruction, peritoneal encapsulation syndrome
Singapore Med J 2007; 48(9): e240–e242