A Case of Injury of the Small Intestine due to the Use of Barbed Sutures in Laparoscopic Surgery

Abstract

A 69-year-old man underwent laparoscopic surgery for intestinal invagination at Braun's anastomosis after distal gastrectomy, and barbed suture was used to suture the small intestine to prevent recurrent invagination. Twenty days later, he presented with abdominal pain. Computed tomography suggested intestinal perforation, and emergency surgery was performed. Based on the intraoperative findings, the intestinal injury was considered to have been caused by mechanical stimulation from the exposed barbed suture. The exposed suture was removed, and the perforated area was treated with ileocecal resection. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Barbed sutures are useful in laparoscopic surgery, but the possibility of complications cannot be overlooked.