Anasarca and Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Endometriosis

Firas F. Mussa, Mussa FF, F F Mussa, Z Younes, Younes Z, Ziad Younes, Tarık Tihan, T Tihan, B E Lacy, Lacy BE, Brian E. Lacy
Journal of clinical gastroenterology · 2001 · vol. 32(2) , pp. 167–171 · doi:10.1097/00004836-200102000-00017 · PMID:11205657 · W2053121011
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This case report describes a woman with small bowel obstruction, protein-losing enteropathy, and anasarca caused by extensive intestinal endometriosis, highlighting a rare but serious complication.

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Abstract

Intestinal involvement by endometriotic tissue occurs in up to 37% of patients with endometriosis. The vast majority of patients do not experience symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, the complications of intestinal obstruction and malabsorption secondary to endometriosis are exceedingly uncommon. We present a 42-year-old woman with intestinal obstruction, protein-losing enteropathy, and anasarca secondary to endometriosis. She had a 1-year history of watery diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain with a 30-lb weight-loss over 3 months. She had no previous history of endometriosis, and laboratory investigations showed severe hypoalbuminemia, hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Abdominal x-rays revealed air-fluid levels and dilated loops of small bowel. She underwent surgical resection with primary anastomosis. Pathologic evaluation showed extensive endometriosis of the small bowel and appendix, which resulted in complete obstruction. Segments of ileum also demonstrated moderate-to-marked blunting of the villi. Postoperatively, the patient had a slow recovery with resolution of anasarca and a gradual increase in her weight. This report illuminates the rare, yet significant, complications of intestinal endometriosis, including small bowel obstruction, the development of a protein-losing enteropathy, and anasarca. One should consider the possibility of intestinal endometriosis in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction in women of childbearing age.
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Anasarca and Small Bowel Obstruction Secondary to Endometriosis - Firas F. Mussa - Ziad Younes - Tarik Tihan - Brian E. Lacy Intestinal involvement by endometriotic tissue occurs in up to 37% of patients with endometriosis. The vast majority of patients do not experience symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, the complications of intestinal obstruction and malabsorption secondary to endometriosis are exceedingly uncommon. We present a 42-year-old woman with intestinal obstruction, protein-losing enteropathy, and anasarca secondary to endometriosis. She had a 1-year history of watery diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain with a 30-lb weight-loss over 3 months. She had no previous history of endometriosis, and laboratory investigations showed severe hypoalbuminemia, hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis. Abdominal x-rays revealed air–fluid levels and dilated loops of small bowel. She underwent surgical resection with primary anastomosis. Pathologic evaluation showed extensive endometriosis of the small bowel and appendix, which resulted in complete obstruction. Segments of ileum also demonstrated moderate-to-marked blunting of the villi. Postoperatively, the patient had a slow recovery with resolution of anasarca and a gradual increase in her weight. This report illuminates the rare, yet significant, complications of intestinal endometriosis, including small bowel obstruction, the development of a protein-losing enteropathy, and anasarca. One should consider the possibility of intestinal endometriosis in the differential diagnosis of bowel obstruction in women of childbearing age.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Ileal Diseases Intestinal Obstruction Protein-Energy Malnutrition Adult Diagnosis, Differential Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Female Humans Ileal Diseases Ileal Diseases Ileal Diseases Ileum Ileum Ileum Intestinal Obstruction Intestinal Obstruction Intestinal Obstruction

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