Citation

Haller C, Guenot C, Azagury D, Rosso R. Swiss Surg. 2003; 9(4): 181-183.

Vernacular Title

Barotraumatisme intestinal apres plongee sous-marine--ileus mecanique sur

Affiliation

Ensemble hospitalier de la Côte, Hôpital de Morges, service de chirurgie, Morges. claude.haller@chuv.hospvd.ch

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Verlag Hans Huber)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12974175

Abstract

A few hours after a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) dive at 30 meters depth, a 49 years-old man complained of diffuse abdominal pain with nausea and vomitus. A laparotomy was performed 36 hours after a conservative treatment because of persistent mechanical small bowel obstruction. The last ileal loop was strangulated between a mobile ceacum and a long sigmoid loop. The man never had previous abdominal surgery. In absence of intestinal necrosis, a caecopexy was done and there was no post-operative complications. The gas distension during the ascension following the Boyle-Mariotte law and its distribution induced in this man with a special anatomy a mechanical small bowel obstruction. The treatment of mobile caecum and the literature of abdominal barotrauma is reviewed.

Language: fr