SMALL-INTESTINAL PERFORATION AND PERITONITIS AFTER ABDOMINAL SUCTION LIPOPLASTY

Suction lipoplasty for abdominal contouring in nonoperated patients is considered a safe procedure with a low incidence of local and systemi c complications. Suction lipoplasty combined with a full abdominoplast y is, however, still controversial with a higher rate of local complic ations. A 56-year-old woman with a history of four laparotomies and tw o abdominoplasties was hospitalized with abdominal pain and signs of p eritonitis after an ambulatory suction lipoplasty, During laparotomy f or peritonitis the abdominal wall was found to be stiff and fibrotic, with massive adhesions to the intestine. Two small intestinal perforat ions caused soiling into the peritoneum. The perforated intestinal seg ment was resected and the postoperative history was uneventful, Both r ecent and former laparotomies in the lower abdomen represent a possibl e risk when suction lipoplasty is performed. An ultrasonographic or co mputed tomographic scan of the abdominal wall would identify or rule o ut any underlying fascial defect or hernia.