Postlaparoscopic small bowel obstruction

Laparoscopic surgery continues to grow in popularity as a technique for approaching a variety of clinical problems. With an increase in the number of these procedures performed, unique complications, both early and late, will be identified. Optimal management of complications may differ significantly from the conventional approach. We describe the course of a patient who develops a high-grade partial small bowel obstruction 2 days after an uneventful laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. The patient had a history of laparoscopic pelvic surgery 7 years previously. Findings at exploration included a Richter's hernia through a midline fascial defect unrelated to our procedure. This defect, approximately 5 cm below the umbilicus, was most likely secondary to her previous laparoscopic procedure. This finding supports routine fascial closure of 10-mm or greater trochar sites and early, aggressive investigation and intervention in postlaparoscopic bowel obstructions.