Incarcerated internal hernia of the small intestine through a re-approximated peritoneum after a trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal procedure--apropos of two cases: review of the literature.

A description of two cases of internal herniation caused by a defect in the closure of the peritoneal flap during a trans-abdominal pre-peritoneal procedure is presented here. They were both successfully treated laparoscopically. This rare condition should be considered when patients who have had recent trans-abdominal surgery for inguinal hernia repair present with colicky lower abdominal pain--its aetiology may well be due to technical error. It is already established that laparoscopy is useful as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in emergency cases, but it is also true that it is useful in case of early post-operative period complications following any laparoscopic procedure, such as the laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.