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Bowel obstruction is a life-threatening emergency implicating prompt
recognition and adapted therapeutic measures. Its etiologies varied
according to patient’s medical and surgical history especially previous
abdominal procedures and age [1]. In the elderly with a virgin
abdomen, congenital peritoneal band is considered as an exceptional
cause for small bowel obstruction remaining a diagnosis by elimination
[2]. This image is the illustration of an 81-year-old male with no
personal surgical history admitted for obstructive syndrome. An emergent
laparotomy was carried out after a brief resuscitation. It showed a
distended but non ischemic small intestine upstream a congenital
peritoneal band laying between the ileum and the bladder (Figure 1). A
section of this band was performed with a retrograde small intestine
emptying. The postoperative course was uneventful. Laparoscopy could be
an option in favorable conditions: stable patients, non-extremely
distended intestine in view of the risk of bowel injury while trocars
placement [3]
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