2011 Volume 31 Issue 7 Pages 1097-1099
A 62-year old patient underwent a radical tension-free hernia operation for a bilateral inguinal hernia in August 2009. He had a past medical history of bronchial asthma and no experience of laparotomy. On the 1st postoperative day, the patient developed abdominal pain and vomiting and was diagnosed as having ileus. Intestinal intubation was performed, but the symptoms did not improve and peritoneal irritation was also observed. Consequently, an emergency laparotomy was performed on the same day. The laparotomy findings indicated massive hemorrhagic ascites and intestinal necrosis. Furthermore, the appendix epiploica of the sigmoid colon had adhered to the peritoneum close to the right internal inguinal ring and formed a band, and the jejunum was impacted and strangulated. The strangulated portion of the small intestine was removed and no damage was confirmed in the peritoneum at the hernia repair site. Intestinal obstruction following radical inguinal hernia operation (Tension-free) is rare. In this case, the peritoneal band existed at the hernia repair site so that the small intestine slid into the space made when the hernia sac was dissected, allowing the intestinal obstruction to occur.
