Strangulated Small Bowel Hernia through a Drain Site

ABSTRACT

Herniation of the small bowel through a drain site is a rare complication of surgery. We report here on a case of strangulated small bowel hernia through the site of a drain placed in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen after abdominal surgery. A 70 year-old male underwent aneurysmoplasty for an abdominal aortic aneurysm through a midline abdominal incision. A silicone drain (a sump drain) with an external diameter of 15 mm was inserted through an 18 mm stab incision in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. The drain was removed after 5 days. Two hours later, a 25 cm segment of small bowel herniated through the drain site and became strangulated. Segmental resection of the strangulated small bowel was performed through extended incision of the drain site wound. The patient recovered and he was discharged 17 days later without further complications.