Incarcerated retroperitoneal hernia following total extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy

Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a common entity encountered in surgical patients. The most common causes of the SBO range from postoperative adhesions to cancer. We present the case of a 55-year-old male who underwent a laparoscopic left radical nephrectomy and presented with an early SBO. An imaging study revealed an obstructive pattern with proximal dilated jejunum with decompressed distal small bowel. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy with extensive lysis of adhesions and release/resection of a long segment of incarcerated jejunum from an 8-cm retroperitoneal hernia in the left renal fossa. The patient was discharged home, and at 3-month follow-up no bowel complaints were reported.