MECHANICAL INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION COMPLICATING PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE

Intestinal obstruction caused by gynecologic disease is infrequent. Reports of obstruction due to strangulation of the intestine by a cyst pedicle, to hernia into the broad ligament or to endometriosis have been found. There have been few reports of intestinal obstruction associated with pelvic inflammatory disease; the following discussion will be confined solely to this particular complication. McIver stated that tubal inflammation may result in intestinal obstruction.1However, in review of 21 cases of obstruction caused by bands (without previous laparotomy), he cited no case in which pelvic inflammatory disease was the cause.2Treves3wrote, "I have knowledge of several instances in which 'pelvic inflammation,' 'meritis,' or 'pelvic cellulitis,' appears without doubt to have provided the band." Norris,4in his treatise "Gonorrhea in Women," did not even mention intestinal obstruction as a complication. Kaufman5reported a single case of ileus complicating salpingitis. Vanderzypen6and