Aberrant mesoappendix vasculature: a unique cause of partial small bowel obstruction.

Small bowel obstructions are most frequently caused by hernias or adhesive bands. However, there have been several rare reported cases of mechanical small bowel obstructions caused by loops of bowel or vascular bands. We describe a case of a 30-year-old woman with a clinical presentation suggestive of appendicitis. Laparoscopic evaluation showed an aberrant vessel looping around the small bowel extending from the lateral anterior abdominal wall to the mesoappendix, resulting in a partial small bowel obstruction. We review the literature relating to bowel obstructions resulting from bowel knots and vascular bands. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a small bowel obstruction caused by an aberrant intraabdominal vessel.