Internal hernia through an iatrogenic defect in the falciform ligament: a case report

Abstract

The incidence of internal hernia through a defect in the falciform ligament, mostly congenital, is very rare. In this era of minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries, a few cases of internal hernia through an iatrogenic defect in the falciform ligament have also been reported. Here, we present a case of a 65-year-old patient who presented with acute small-bowel obstruction. The patient had undergone a laparoscopic fundoplication 4 years ago. On diagnostic laparoscopy, it was found that the cause of the intestinal obstruction was herniation of the small bowel through a window in the falciform ligament (which was probably created due to port insertion during the previous surgery of laparoscopic fundoplication). The obstruction was relieved by the division of the falciform ligament.