Intestinal injury secondary to an umbilical piercing
1Section for Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles, USA.
Background:
Body piercing has become increasingly popular throughout the world and may cause unanticipated complications during surgery.
Methods:
We describe the case of a 35-y-old woman with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy for metastatic disease evaluation.
Results:
An early intestinal injury occurred upon abdominal entry and introduction of pneumoperitoneum. The injury was secondary to a single adhesion between the abdominal wall and small bowel caused by a previous umbilical piercing.
Conclusions:
Umbilical piercing can lead to unanticipated intraoperative complications even if it is removed prior to surgery. Surgeons performing laparoscopy should be aware of potential pitfalls associated with these art forms.
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