Spontaneous cecal perforation in a 40-year-old pregnant woman treated by primary repair and omental patch: a case report

BACKGROUND Spontaneous colonic perforations are scarce, and cecal perforations even more so. Preoperative diagnosis of the latter in a pregnant woman is particularly difficult because of physiologic changes and restrictions on some diagnostic imaging techniques, such as X-rays. Furthermore, management of these patients is a big challenge. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of a spontaneous cecal perforation in a 40-year-old pregnant black woman in the Regional Hospital of Bafoussam in Cameroon. The results of clinical examination and ultrasonography on admission were in line with acute generalized peritonitis in a woman at 20 weeks of a viable pregnancy, indicating an urgent laparotomy. Operative findings were a 1 × 1-cm perforation on a distended cecum with minimal fecal contamination. The treatment consisted of excision of the edges, primary suture of the perforation, and omentoplasty. The recovery of the patient was uneventful. CONCLUSIONS The management of spontaneous cecal perforation in a pregnant woman was a big challenge. The perforation was repaired by primary suture and omentoplasty. Further studies comparing this approach with right hemicolectomy are recommended.