Acute small bowel obstruction secondary to a right-sided paraduodenal hernia: a case report and review of operative management.

Paraduodenal hernias (PDH) are the most common type of internal hernia, accounting for ~53% of cases. Right-sided PDH are considerably less common than left-sided variants, comprising approximately one quarter of all PDH. Approximately 50% of PDH may progress to bowel obstruction during a patient's lifetime, although PDH account for <1% of all small bowel obstructions. Pre-operative diagnosis is challenging due to the non-specific clinical presentation, with computed tomography imaging representing the diagnostic modality of choice. We present the case of an 18-year-old male with acute abdominal pain and vomiting secondary to a right-sided PDH causing high-grade small bowel obstruction. The patient underwent successful operative management with an uncomplicated post-operative recovery. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition and timely surgical intervention in preventing bowel compromise and associated morbidity.