Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case

Abstract Background Torsion of the greater omentum is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in adults and children. It is very difficult to make a correct diagnosis of torsion clinically because it mimics other acute pathologies; however, the preoperative diagnosis can be easily confirmed with the us...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jun Kataoka, Toshikatsu Nitta, Masato Ota, Yuko Takashima, Yuta Yokota, Kensuke Fujii, Takeshi Higashino, Takashi Ishibashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan Surgical Society 2019-05-01
Series:Surgical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40792-019-0618-5
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849416774502580224
author Jun Kataoka
Toshikatsu Nitta
Masato Ota
Yuko Takashima
Yuta Yokota
Kensuke Fujii
Takeshi Higashino
Takashi Ishibashi
author_facet Jun Kataoka
Toshikatsu Nitta
Masato Ota
Yuko Takashima
Yuta Yokota
Kensuke Fujii
Takeshi Higashino
Takashi Ishibashi
author_sort Jun Kataoka
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Torsion of the greater omentum is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in adults and children. It is very difficult to make a correct diagnosis of torsion clinically because it mimics other acute pathologies; however, the preoperative diagnosis can be easily confirmed with the use of computed tomography (CT). Herein, we report a case of laparoscopic omentectomy for primary torsion of the omentum, which was not improved by conservative treatment. Case presentation A 50-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain of a few hours’ duration. Routine blood tests showed a white blood cell count of 8900/mm3, and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 8.13 mg/dl. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed twisting of the omentum with a local mass of fat density and fluid distributed in a whirling oval-shaped mass pattern at the right flank and iliac fossa. Therefore, the patient was admitted to our hospital based on a diagnosis of omental torsion. The patient was treated with conservative treatment with analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics. Although his symptoms were ameliorated, his laboratory and radiological findings worsened. We performed laparoscopic omentectomy 6 days after admission. The resected omentum was 24 cm × 22 cm in size and was twisted and dark red in color, suggesting infarction. Histological analysis revealed that the specimen was ischemic and hemorrhagic omentum, accompanied by inflammatory infiltration. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged 9 days later. Conclusion This is a rare case of primary torsion of the greater omentum that was treated successfully with laparoscopic omentectomy. Considering the increase in surgical difficulty due to inflammation from prolonged torsion and the limited efficacy of conservative treatment, we conclude that surgical intervention is warranted as early as possible when torsion of the greater omentum is suspected.
format Article
id doaj-art-5e74cbd1cfaa4411bbe51baf76ef25af
institution Kabale University
issn 2198-7793
language English
publishDate 2019-05-01
publisher Japan Surgical Society
record_format Article
series Surgical Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-5e74cbd1cfaa4411bbe51baf76ef25af2025-08-20T03:33:03ZengJapan Surgical SocietySurgical Case Reports2198-77932019-05-01511610.1186/s40792-019-0618-5Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a caseJun Kataoka0Toshikatsu Nitta1Masato Ota2Yuko Takashima3Yuta Yokota4Kensuke Fujii5Takeshi Higashino6Takashi Ishibashi7Department of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalDepartment of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical College HospitalDepartment of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Gastroenterological Center, Shunjukai Shiroyama HospitalAbstract Background Torsion of the greater omentum is a rare cause of acute abdominal pain in adults and children. It is very difficult to make a correct diagnosis of torsion clinically because it mimics other acute pathologies; however, the preoperative diagnosis can be easily confirmed with the use of computed tomography (CT). Herein, we report a case of laparoscopic omentectomy for primary torsion of the omentum, which was not improved by conservative treatment. Case presentation A 50-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain of a few hours’ duration. Routine blood tests showed a white blood cell count of 8900/mm3, and the C-reactive protein (CRP) level was 8.13 mg/dl. Contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed twisting of the omentum with a local mass of fat density and fluid distributed in a whirling oval-shaped mass pattern at the right flank and iliac fossa. Therefore, the patient was admitted to our hospital based on a diagnosis of omental torsion. The patient was treated with conservative treatment with analgesics, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics. Although his symptoms were ameliorated, his laboratory and radiological findings worsened. We performed laparoscopic omentectomy 6 days after admission. The resected omentum was 24 cm × 22 cm in size and was twisted and dark red in color, suggesting infarction. Histological analysis revealed that the specimen was ischemic and hemorrhagic omentum, accompanied by inflammatory infiltration. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged 9 days later. Conclusion This is a rare case of primary torsion of the greater omentum that was treated successfully with laparoscopic omentectomy. Considering the increase in surgical difficulty due to inflammation from prolonged torsion and the limited efficacy of conservative treatment, we conclude that surgical intervention is warranted as early as possible when torsion of the greater omentum is suspected.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40792-019-0618-5Primary torsion of the omentumAcute abdomenLaparoscopy
spellingShingle Jun Kataoka
Toshikatsu Nitta
Masato Ota
Yuko Takashima
Yuta Yokota
Kensuke Fujii
Takeshi Higashino
Takashi Ishibashi
Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case
Surgical Case Reports
Primary torsion of the omentum
Acute abdomen
Laparoscopy
title Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case
title_full Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case
title_fullStr Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case
title_full_unstemmed Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case
title_short Laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum: report of a case
title_sort laparoscopic omentectomy in primary torsion of the greater omentum report of a case
topic Primary torsion of the omentum
Acute abdomen
Laparoscopy
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40792-019-0618-5
work_keys_str_mv AT junkataoka laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT toshikatsunitta laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT masatoota laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT yukotakashima laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT yutayokota laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT kensukefujii laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT takeshihigashino laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase
AT takashiishibashi laparoscopicomentectomyinprimarytorsionofthegreateromentumreportofacase