The Abdominal Cocoon: A Rare Cause of Intestinal Obstruction in Two Patients

Abstract

The abdominal cocoon is a rare disease that is characterized by total or partial encasement of the small bowel by a thick and fibrotic membrane. After an increased number of case reports, the characteristic age group and sex distribution of abdominal cocoon have changed. Although the etiology is unknown, congenital malformation is implicated as the causative factor in the two patients in this report. Although preoperative diagnosis is a matter of challenge and usually made at laparotomy, our experience suggests that computed tomographic evidence of clustered small bowel loops encased by a thin membrane-like sac is a characteristic preoperative finding in patients with abdominal cocoon. Surgical removal of the membrane and adhesions is the most appropriate choice of therapy.