LAPAROSCOPIC INTERVENTION TO RELIEVE SMALL-BOWEL OBSTRUCTION FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC HERNIORRHAPHY

In this report, we present two cases of small bowel obstruction after laparoscopic herniorrhaphy (LH). One case involved incarceration of th e small intestine into the port site, resulting in obstruction In an 8 0-year-old man on the third day after LH. The other case involved a 78 -year-old man with bilateral inguinal hernia and a recurrent type on o ne side. In this case, a small bowel obstruction occurred due to intes tinal herniation through the repaired peritoneum in the pelvic floor. In both cases, the location of the obstruction was diagnosed by means of a computed tomography scan. Subsequently, the trocar incision was e xtended to relieve obstruction with laparotomy in the first case, and the herniated intestinal loop was extracted followed by reclosure of t he defective peritoneum under laparoscopic intervention in the second case. After the second operation, the clinical course of each patient was uneventful, and they were discharged from hospital at 10 days afte r the second surgery. In conclusion, (a) although patients can greatly benefit from LH, it must be kept in mind that problems can occur and (b) laparoscopic surgery to relieve small bowel obstruction following LH is the preferred procedure.