The abdominal cocoon: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction

Abstract

The abdominal cocoon is a very rare entity leading to bowel obstruction. A 30-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with symptoms and signs of mechanical intestinal obstruction. In addition to these, the recurrent episodes of obstruction in the patient's history and palpable abdominal mass found during the physical examination, appeared as important clinical characteristics of the pathology. A CT scan of the abdomen showed a conglomerate of bowel loops encased in a membrane. A Cocoon-like mass consisting of encapsulated bowel loops was the main finding of surgical exploration. Dissection and excision of the encapsulating membrane and release of encased loops provided definitive treatment of this rare entity.