Uterine leiomyoma as a cause of small bowel obstruction!

Leiomyomas (fibroids) are benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterine myometrium. They are symptomatic in 25% of patients; they can cause significant morbidity, including heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure. Rare complications of fibroids exist, and here we present a patient with SBO caused by a large uterine fibroid. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment for symptomatic patients [1].

Small bowel obstruction can lead to bowel ischemia, perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis, with prolonged bowel obstruction, the intestine continues to dilate, thus increasing the luminal pressure. As this pressure continues to rise, it exceeds that of the local venous drainage system and bowel edema and hyperemia result. Further pressure increases compromise the arterial supply to the bowel and ischemia results, eventually progressing to perforation.

We are presenting a case of a patient who had bowel obstruction complicated by intestinal gangrene secondary to a huge uterine fibroid.

A 45-year-old female who presented to Acute Admissions Unit with one day duration of diffuse worsening lower abdominal pain, associated with several episodes of vomiting, last bowel motion was 48 hours ago, past medical history included heavy periods and intermenstrual bleeding, atrial fibrillation, and asthma.

General examination revealed high body mass index (BMI) (140 kg), she was apyrexial with a blood pressure of 198/106 and a regular pulse rate of 79, respiratory rate of 22, and oxygen saturation level of 95% on room air. Abdominal examination revealed palpable three abdominal masses in the lower abdomen, uncomplicated paraumbilical hernia. Digital rectal examination revealed hard feces with no blood, vaginal examination was not possible due to the patient’s obesity.

Laboratory findings revealed white cell count (WCC) 11.9 × 103, Hb 15.0 g/dL, C-reactive protein (CRP) 18 mg/L Na+ 138, K+ 4.7, Urea 10.3, creatinine 150 and normal arterial blood gas. Computed tomography scan of the abdomen showed a large, lobulated abdominal mass measuring 26 cm by 20 cm possibly fibroids, composed of heterogeneous endometrial tissue with a focal area of calcification, with dilated small bowel loops indicative of small bowel obstruction (Figure 1).

Mid line laparotomy revealed minimal intraperitoneal serous fluid and a 20 cm gangrenous segment of the ileum possibly due to compression by the large uterus; subtotal hysterectomy as well as small bowel resection was resected and stapled anastomosis was carried out (Figure 2 and Figure 3). The patient had smooth postoperative recovery, was discharged on the fifth postoperative day, and was seen in the clinic after six weeks with no postoperative complications noted.

The etiology of SBO varies by age with benign disease being the typical cause in children and adolescents while malignant or adhesive disease is far more common in older patients [2]. Indeed, it has been shown that adhesions account for over half of the cases of intestinal obstruction seen [3]

An erect chest radiograph to exclude perforation and an abdominal radiograph to identify the anatomical level of the obstruction are recommended as first-line imaging in suspected bowel obstruction. Computed tomography scanning is recommended by the Royal College of Radiologists (UK) to examine the site and cause of the obstruction and plan further management. Computed tomography imaging is the most sensitive technique for establishing both the presence of peritoneal free air and the location of a given perforation, yet CT is less sensitive in determining the presence of ischemia [4],[5]. Thus on a number of levels, CT imaging is useful in the diagnosis and management of obstruction.

Gynecological disease and its treatment are a known cause of bowel obstruction; however, there is very little literature available on a specific case, such as the one presented here. The relationship between leiomyomas and bowel obstruction is known to exist, albeit extremely rarely and often indirectly. A previous case report of bowel obstruction caused by a caecal volvulus around large uterine leiomyoma served to illustrate how the complications of leiomyomas may occur [6]. In addition, the potential for leiomyomas to form adhesions, which subsequently cause small or large intestinal obstruction also exists [7],[8].

Despite the known association between postoperative adhesions and bowel obstruction [2],[3], recent evidence suggests that gynecological procedures such as hysterectomy is associated with a relatively low incidence of small bowel obstruction (0.53%; 95% confidence interval 0.32–0.86). Additionally, this is not significantly affected by the route of surgery chosen [9]. Thus, we may anticipate in this case that given the primary cause of obstruction was leiomyoma, the probability of recurrence would be low.

It is clear that uterine leiomyomas may compress the bowel, leading to obstruction, either from their extensive size or as a result of their associated complications as shown in our case as well as another recently published case report [10]. It is essential that leiomyomas are considered as the etiology of intestinal obstruction in female patients who have or have not been previously diagnosed.

Huge uterine fibroid is a rare cause bowel obstruction which should be included in the list of causes of mechanical small bowel obstruction. Accurate monitoring and imaging can serve to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention and also reduce morbidity and mortality rates, leading to better patient's outcome.