A woman experienced dehydration, nausea, and vomiting after laparoscopic ov
arian cystectomy. Symptoms resolved with hydration and observation. Daily a
bdominal radiographs revealed persistence of subdiaphragmatic gas for 7 day
s. There were no signs of peritonitis at any time during the evaluation. Wh
en patients experience abdominal complaints after laparoscopy, a major conc
ern is perforated bowel. Since subdiaphragmatic air can persist for up to 2
4 days, clinical decisions are generally made on the basis of other finding
s.