Midgut malrotation with volvulus discovered at an emergency caesarean section for placental abruption

Adult midgut malrotation with volvulus (AMMV) is an uncommon presentation which may be found incidentally during abdominal radiologic investigations or at laparotomy. We report a case of AMMV and small bowel gangrene in a 35-year-old Gravida four, Para three at 39 weeks, 4 days gestation who presented with a short history of worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting and abdominal wall guarding. Emergency caesarean section performed on account of a suspected placental abruption incidentally revealed a long segment of non-viable small intestine. Subsequent midline laparotomy disclosed a midgut malrotation with volvulus and bowel gangrene. This resulted in a 4.6m resection of non-viable small bowel with Ladd’s procedure. The patient developed moderate symptoms of short bowel syndrome in the post-operative period which was successfully managed non-operatively. This case report represents a rare diagnosis, in the West-African sub-region, of an adult midgut malrotation with volvulus mimicking a third trimester obstetric emergency.