Staged second-look laparoscopy to evaluate ischemic bowel

An open, second-look laparotomy often is required to assess ischemic bowel after extensive mesenteric lymphadenectomy to cytoreduce midgut carcinoids. Aggressive resection of tumor at the base of the mesentery may compromise the integrity of the blood supply to the involved segment of intestine. Long segments of bowel that initially appear ischemic are sometimes created. The surgeon is faced with the decision to perform a resection or to close the abdomen temporarily knowing that this patient will require a second-look laparotomy.

Segments of bowel showing signs of possible ischemia were preserved based on signs of perfusion. A side-side anastomosis was performed in the standard fashion. A Jackson Pratt drain was placed in an area adjacent to the anastomosis and brought out through the abdominal wall, and the incision was closed. Forty-eight hours later, a laparoscopic second-look operation was performed. A pneumoperitoneum was established using the drain tubing as the CO(2) inflation port. The drain was removed, and a 5-mm trocar was inserted into the abdomen via its tract. Segments of previously questionable dusky bowel and the anastomosis were inspected with a laparoscope.

Our 3 second-look operations were completed in approximately 5 minutes, and the patients recovered without complication or prolonged hospital course. Our fourth patient progressed extremely well postoperatively and was able to avoid the planned second-look laparoscopy.

This technique provides an easy solution for the intraoperative finding of questionable blood supply in the intestines.