Omental infarction: case series and review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Omental infarction is a rare disease entity that can cause acute or subacute abdominal pain. In the past, it was thought that omental infarction mainly occurred on the right side because it was detected when surgery was performed on patients who complained of abdominal pain on the right side.

Objective: We present this case to demonstrate that omental infarction can occur at any site, including the epigastric area and the lower abdomen, and even on the left side where the greater omentum is located.

Case report: Four patients with omental infarction presented to the Emergency Department with various clinical symptoms. All of them were diagnosed by computed tomography scan. Omental infarction occurred on the right side in 2 patients, at the epigastric area in 1 patient, and on the left side in 1 patient. Three were improved with supportive care. Laparoscopy was performed in 1 patient because his abdominal pain persisted despite conservative treatment.

Conclusion: Omental infarction should be included in the differential diagnosis list of acute abdominal pain because it can occur at any site. In addition, because this disease runs a self-limited course, conservative care is recommended. Thus, unnecessary operations can be avoided in cases where omental infarction is diagnosed by imaging studies.