A Case of Adhesive Intestinal Obstruction after Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair

Abstract

A 70-year-old man underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair at our hospital. Laparoscopic findings revealed bilateral external inguinal hernias (right : L2 type, left : L1 type). Transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair (TAPP) was performed bilaterally. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any complications on the third postoperative day. Two months after the TAPP, the patient developed an intestinal obstruction and was readmitted to our hospital. No improvement was observed with conservative treatment ; therefore, surgery was performed. Intraoperative findings showed that the peritoneal suture in the right inguinal region had separated, and the small intestine had adhered. The adhesions were laparoscopically removed. Because the peritoneum could not be repaired due to the strong adhesion to the surrounding tissues, the peritoneal defect was covered with an adhesion-prevention mesh (Ventralight ST, Bird). The patient was discharged without complication on the seventh postoperative day. After nine months, neither hernia nor intestinal obstruction reoccurred. Herein, we report a case of intestinal obstruction after TAPP, along with a literature review.