Small bowel obstruction due to intra-abdominal hernia: New thoughts on diagnosis and treatment

Internal herniation (IH) refers to the movement of intra-abdominal organs or tissues out of their original position through normal or abnormal orifices and fissures in the peritoneum or mesentery and into an anatomic space within the abdominal cavity. Although the incidence of small bowel obstruction (SBO) caused by IH is very low (approximately 0.2% to 0.9%), its incidence may be increased in certain specific populations or in postoperative patients. Recently Kaw et al shared their 13-year experience of managing IHs in a tertiary care hospital in India. This retrospective study analyzed and determined the clinico-demographic profiles, radiological and operative findings and postoperative course of patients with IH and the association with SBO. The results provide valuable insights into early diagnosis and establishment of a timely treatment regimen for this condition and emphasize the importance of combining rapid imaging evaluation with the traditional therapeutic approach of laparoscopic surgery, thus providing a novel perspective on the diagnosis and treatment of SBO caused by IH.