Abstract

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare but potentially life-threatening mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reaction, most commonly triggered by medications such as carbamazepine. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in SJS is uncommon and often under-recognized. We report the case of a 46-year-old diabetic woman recently diagnosed with carbamazepine-induced SJS, who presented with an obstructed paraumbilical hernia and diffuse intraoperative inflammation involving the entire bowel. This case underscores the importance of thorough intraoperative evaluation in patients with recent or ongoing SJS. Surgeons should be cautious in making decisions regarding bowel resection based solely on abnormal serosal appearance, as inflammation may not necessarily indicate irreversible pathology. In this patient, conservative surgical management combined with appropriate postoperative supportive care resulted in a favorable outcome without unnecessary bowel resection.

Key words: Stevens-Johnson syndrome, gastrointestinal involvement, carbamazepine, abdominal surgery, colonic inflammation, paraumbilical hernia