J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2019 Jun;30(3):289-292. 10.0000/jksem.2019.30.3.289.

A case of chilaiditi syndrome complicated by acute small bowel obstruction

• Oh SB
• Koh CY

• KMID: 2450138
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/jksem.2019.30.3.289

Abstract

Chilaiditi syndrome is an extremity rare disease that is typically asymptomatic, but can lead to fatal complications, such as volvulus, perforation, and bowel obstruction. This paper reports a case of an 80-year-old female patient who was admitted for right upper quadrant pain and nausea. She showed a positive Murphy sign with tenderness in the right upper quadrant area. Abdominal ultrasound showed that the gall bladder was normal, but abdominal computed tomography revealed multiple small bowel loops interposed among the liver and diaphragm, as well as an abrupt small transition in the bowel caliber with air fluid levels. Therefore, she was diagnosed with an acute small bowel obstruction by Chilaiditi syndrome. She was managed with surgical repair and was discharged without complications after 18 days of admission. Small bowel obstructions by Chilaiditi syndrome is one etiology of which every emergency physician should be aware.

Keyword

Chilaiditi syndrome; Small intestine; Intestinal obstruction

MeSH Terms

Aged, 80 and over
Chilaiditi Syndrome*
Diaphragm
Emergencies
Extremities
Female
Humans
Intestinal Obstruction
Intestinal Volvulus
Intestine, Small
Liver
Nausea
Rare Diseases
Ultrasonography
Urinary Bladder