[Abdominal pain caused by herniation of the small intestine through the ligamentum latum uteri].

A 47-year-old woman had experienced paroxysmal pain in the lower abdomen, nausea and vomiting for the last 12 hours. Laparoscopy revealed a 60-cm hernia of ileum through the ligamentum latum, which had led to ileal necrosis. After resection of a portion of the small intestine, the patient recovered. Defects in the ligamentum latum can arise from congenital or acquired causes. The most common congenital cause is the rupture of a cystic structure in the ligamentum latum. Acquired causes include surgical intervention, pelvic inflammatory disease and traumatic injury sustained during gravidity or parturition. These causes all lead to local weakening of or direct damage to the ligamentum latum.