Introduction:

Sclerosing encapsulating chronic peritonitis is a rare cause of small intestine obstruction. Primary presentation or abdominal cocoon syndrome is a uncommon malformation in development characterized by the envelopment of the small intestine, compromising totally o partially the full lenght of the intestine, secondary to a fibrotic tissue covering of the intestinal loops. This membrane is thick and fibrotic, resembling a cocoon; involving the small intestine, in other cases it can reach the stomach, colon, liver and spleen.

Case report:

Male, 35 years old, history of abdominal pain, three months before admission in the emergency department; the symptomatology progressively intensified. Surgical approach was decided, first with a laparoscopic managment, finding intestinal loops covered by a fibrotic tissue, compromising almost 75% of the small intestine. Abdominal cocoon syndrome is rare, however, the knowledge of this pathology is important to the surgeon because it mimics the common causes of surgical abdomen.