# An Unusual Postoperative Complication Following Bilateral Inguinal Hernioplasty: A Pocket Hernia Case Report

## TL;DR

A 47-year-old man developed a rare complication called a peritoneal pocket hernia after undergoing surgery for inguinal hernias.

## Contribution

This case report highlights a rare postoperative complication following bilateral TAPP hernia repair.

## Key findings

- The patient developed a hematoma and small bowel obstruction after bilateral TAPP repair.
- A peritoneal pocket hernia was identified as the cause requiring re-intervention.
- The case underscores the importance of skilled surgical techniques to prevent rare complications.

## Abstract

Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernias in the groin, affecting 27% of the population, with a nine to 12 times higher incidence in men. The primary treatment for this condition typically involves a surgical procedure, with most surgeons opting for mesh placement through a laparoscopic approach. While this procedure is generally associated with low complication rates (primarily hematomas, seromas, and scrotal edema), there are some highly infrequent complications reported such as postoperative small bowel obstruction (SBO), estimated to occur in approximately 0.1%-0.5% of cases, most commonly during transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of using skilled surgical techniques and adhering to established guidelines in postoperative patient care to minimize the risk of these complications. We describe a case of a 47-year-old male patient who underwent bilateral TAPP repair for inguinal hernias and subsequently experienced postoperative complications, including the development of a hematoma and SBO, requiring a re-intervention that evidenced a peritoneal pocket hernia.