Small Bowel Obstruction Due to Transperitoneal Incarceration After Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 76-year-old woman developed a rare bowel obstruction after spinal surgery, requiring surgical correction and highlighting the need for careful postoperative monitoring.

Contribution

This case report highlights a rare complication of anterior lumbar interbody fusion and emphasizes the importance of peritoneal closure.

Findings

A mechanical small bowel obstruction occurred 14 days after anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

The obstruction was due to transperitoneal incarceration of the bowel into the preperitoneal space.

Surgical correction was successful, and the case underscores the need for vigilance in retroperitoneal procedures.

Abstract

We present the case of a 76-year-old woman who experienced severe abdominal pain and vomiting 14 days after undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion. CT revealed a mechanical small bowel obstruction with a transition point in the proximal ileum. During surgery, an incarcerated bowel loop was discovered, having herniated into the preperitoneal space. The obstruction was corrected surgically. This article discusses the perioperative findings, reviews the existing literature, and examines surgical correction techniques. We emphasize the importance of meticulous peritoneal closure and the need for vigilance against intra-abdominal complications in retroperitoneal surgical procedures.

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