Postoperative bowel obstruction following laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

The rapid expansion of laparoscopic surgery has not been achieved without attendant complications, some of them unique. Visceral herniation into abdominal trocar entry sites is occasionally mentioned but seldom reported. We present three cases of postoperative bowel obstruction resulting from visceral herniation into trocar entry sites in different surgical settings, suggesting that this complication may be more common than is appreciated. Awareness of this clinical problem confirms the need for meticulous closure of larger abdominal trocar sites and should be considered when dealing with abdominal disorders following laparoscopic surgery.