Small bowel obstruction after caesarean section: Laparoscopic management. Two case reports

Introduction: Caesarean section is the most common abdominal surgery performed on women worldwide. Adhesions represent a severe complication of cesarean section and can cause different degrees of bowel obstruction.

Case reports: We report two unusual cases of small bowel obstruction treated with laparoscopic approach after caesarean section performed for gynecological pathologies. In the first one small bowel obstruction was due to volvulus caused by a severe pelvic adhesion syndrome; in the second one, occlusive picture was related to presence of multiple adhesion phenomena between the sigmoid colon and the right ovary as result of abdominal hysterectomy.

Discussion: The incidence of small bowel obstruction after caesarean section is very low and postoperative adhesions represent the main cause. Diagnosis was established by clinical signs, radiological and intraoperative findings. Laparoscopic approach can be the treatment of choice only in selected patients. In presence of dense adhesions, inability to visualize the site of obstruction, iatrogenic intestinal perforation, bowel necrosis and technical difficulties, conversion to open surgery is mandatory.

Conclusion: In selected patients with small bowel obstruction laparoscopy is a safe and feasible procedure if conservative measures fail.