Gangrenous Gut in a Pregnant woman: A Case Report

Abstract

Gangrene of the intestines is a rare complication in pregnancy. Intestinal obstruction and ischemic bowel diseases are common causes of gangrene of the intestines in pregnancy. Adhesion bands can cause intestinal obstruction while arterial occlusion, venous thrombosis and vasculitis are some causes of ischemic bowel disease. We present a case of small intestinal gangrene in a 30 year old woman in her third pregnancy, diagnosed during emergency cesarean section with extensive gangrene of the ileum and jejunum caused by band formation at the illeo-caecal junction. This case, despite the unfortunate catastrophic outcome, highlights the subtle challenges of managing rare obstetric complication in resource limited settings.