A case report on omentum infarction with conservative treatment

Abstract

Introduction: OI is a rare condition that can occur at any age with a 2:1 male-to-female ratio, although most cases appear in people between 30 and 50 years of age. Patients with OI often present with acute or subacute nonspecific abdominal pain that usually involves the right abdominal quadrants. The diagnosis of OI cannot be based on clinical presentation alone, as symptoms often mimic other abdominal diseases. Treatment usually involves a conservative approach with antibiotics, analgesics, and rest, but surgical intervention may become necessary in certain situations, such as diagnostic uncertainty, failure of conservative treatment, or the presence of complications such as abscess formation or peritonitis. Discussion: IO has a very low incidence of approximately 0.3% of all patients presenting with acute abdomen and its underlying etiology remains poorly understood. Radiological imaging using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging increased the yield of the diagnosis of omental infarction. The management of IO is a topic for debate. There is a paradigm shift from the previous surgical approach of performing a laparotomy or laparoscopy to a more conservative management in OI. Conclusion: The etiology of OI is not yet well explained, but there are risk factors for the development of this pathology, such as obesity or blunt abdominal trauma. Computed tomography remains the best form of diagnosis to rule out other causes. Its treatment is still discussed, and may consist of surgical or conservative treatment.