Strangulated Small Bowel Internal Hernia Under the External Iliac Artery After Robotic Cystoprostatectomy

• Published in: Curēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 6; p. e39837
• Main Authors: Khalid, Aizaz, Salman, Mohamed A, Woodhams, Simon, Newton, Richard C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cureus Inc 01.06.2023; Cureus
• Subjects: Abdomen; Cardiac/Thoracic/Vascular Surgery; Case reports; Dissection; General Surgery; Hernias; Intestinal obstruction; Lymphatic system; Ostomy; Robotics; Small intestine; Surgery; Urology; Veins & arteries; strangulated internal hernia; acute abdomen; pelvic lymph node dissection; iliac artery; cystoprostatectomy
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.39837

Small bowel obstruction is a common surgical pathology encountered in the emergency department. The most common cause of small bowel obstruction is adhesions secondary to previous abdominal surgery. While strangulated external hernias are also a common cause of obstructions encountered, internal hernias leading to obstruction are rare. We present a 76-year-old male who presented with an acute abdomen and was later diagnosed with an internal hernia underneath his right external iliac artery.  Internal herniation underneath the iliac vasculature is a recent phenomenon encountered very rarely after the natural anatomy has been disturbed in patients who have undergone pelvic lymph node dissection. Patients with a previous history of pelvic lymph node dissection should be suspected of having an internal hernia if they present with an acute abdomen. Closure of the peritoneum should also be considered in these patients as it may help prevent herniation.