Delayed diagnosis of small bowel obstruction following laparoscopic lymph node dissection

Laparoscopic surgical procedures are infrequently complicated by bowel herniation through unsutured trocar sites. Nevertheless, there is a risk of this complication in patients presenting with symptoms of small bowel obstruction after laparoscopy. We present a case of delayed small bowel obstruction due to a Richter's hernia, a rare type of hernia that involves incomplete protrusion of bowel wall through a surgical defect. Knowledge of this potential complication of laparoscopic procedures may prevent the significant morbidity that results from mechanical small bowel obstruction with necrosis.