A Case of Internal Hernia Through a Defect in the Left Broad Ligament of the Uterus

Abstract

A 44-year-old woman was examined in our hospital after complaining of vomiting and abdominal pain. An abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography examination revealed a dilated intestine and a right-displaced uterus in the pelvic cavity. A long tube was inserted to decompress the dilated intestine, but her symptoms did not improve. An abdominal plain CT examination after an intestine series using a long tube showed the stenosis of the intestine in the left region of the uterus. Laparoscopic surgery was performed, and the ileum was found to have herniated into a defect of the left broad ligament of the uterus. The intestine had adequate blood flow, and the intestine was released and the defect of the broad ligament of the uterus was sutured without resecting the intestine. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course. We experienced a relatively rare case of an internal hernia through a defect in the broad ligament of the uterus. Laparoscopic surgery after decompression of the dilated intestine was minimally invasive and useful.