Laparoscopic Port Site Hernia: A Rare Etiology of Intestinal Obstruction

Abstract

Small intestinal obstruction is a common indication for hospitalization and emergency surgeries. The most frequent etiologies are adhesions, hernia, and benign or malignant neoplasms. Abdominal imaging plays an important role in making the diagnosis and evaluating the complications of the obstruction. We report a case of a young woman who presented with sudden abdominal pain and vomiting. She had a relevant past medical history of sickle cell disease and multiple episodes of biliary colic for which she underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy two months before her current presentation. Laboratory findings indicated mild inflammation in the form of elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate with the leukocytes count in the upper normal limits. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a knuckle of small bowel incarcerated in the port location of the previous laparoscopy. The bowel was reduced and the defect was repaired. The patient had complete resolution of her symptoms following the surgery. The case highlighted the importance of considering port-site hernia as an etiology of bowel obstruction in the relevant clinical settings since laparoscopic operations are being increasingly performed.