Rare cause of intestinal obstruction after laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: internal herniation via a mesenteric...

A 43-year-old man had painless macroscopic hematuria and was diagnosed with a 9-cm renal carcinoma in the lower pole of the left kidney. He underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal left radical nephrectomy (LRN) with an uneventful recovery. Eleven days later, he developed intestinal obstruction (IO). Abdominal computed tomography scan showed dilated small bowels occupying the left renal fossa. Laparotomy revealed closed-loop small bowel obstruction resulting from internal intestinal herniation via a 5-cm mesenteric defect. It was repaired after the herniated bowels were reduced. This case illustrates a rare cause of IO after LRN, in which mesenteric defect is necessary.