A case of port site hernia following laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy

Abstract

A 78-year-old woman, was referred to our hospital for further examination of early gastric cancer, and underwent a laparoscopic-assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG). She started to complain of nausea, vomiting and a left lower abdominal pain appeared on the fourth postoperative day. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed ileus due to incarceration of the small intestine at the site of the 12 mm port incision. An urgent operation was performed and a peritoneal defect was observed at the port site of the 12 mm trocar which was inserted from the left middle abdomen, and a part of the ileum was incarcerated into the muscle through the peritoneal defect. We pushed it back into the abdominal cavity, rendering intestinal resection unnecessary. Abdominal CT scan is useful for diagnosis and allows precise diagnosis even when the abdominal surface elevation is minimal in the early stage of a port site hernia.