[The normal CT and ultrasonic findings after a laparoscopic inguinal hernia operation]

Common surgery has been revolutionised by minimal invasive surgery in a very short period of time. Laparoscopic operations of inguinal hernias are routinely done by many surgeons. For interpreting correctly postoperative complications with radiological techniques it is necessary to know the sonographical and CT changes of the normal postoperative situs. For evaluating these changes 23 patients without symptoms were examined between the first and third postoperative day. Typical sonographic findings are high echogenicity of the hernial orifice (17x) and echo-lucent thickening of the spermatic cord. The surgical clips and fleece and CO2 bubbles could not be detected by ultrasound. Using CT we found free peritoneal fluid collection (2x), streaky thickenings in the area of operation (20x), oedema at the hernial orifice (19x), residual CO2 bubbles (22x), thickening of the spermatic cord (22x) and visualisation of the surgical clips. The surgical fleece was invisible in all patients.