title: Small bowel herniation after laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy.
abstract: Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies have been done with increasing frequency in the United States. To date, minimal complications have been noted with this procedure. The authors review a series of 90 individuals and note a three percent small bowel obstruction rate. This complication is more common in this group of patients than in patients having a standard abdominal hysterectomy. Since this operation has been commonly performed, it is often possible to convert an abdominal hysterectomy to a vaginal approach, this increase in complications is exceedingly high. The authors recommend closure of lateral abdominal wall port sites under direct laparoscopic visualization to prevent this serious complication.
authors.affiliation: Texas Technical University Health Sciences Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amarillo 79106, USA.
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Puls
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Henderson
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D005260:Female; D006547:Hernia / Q000209:etiology; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies