A Strangulated hernia as a result of ERCP

Abstract

An 83-year-old woman attended for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) following an episode of acute jaundice. A computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed a dilated common bile duct with a distal filling defect that was later confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be a biliary stone. She had undergone a right inguinal hernia repair 5 years previously and the CT scan suggested a possible recurrence ([Fig. 1]).Sphincterotomy was performed at ERCP and a 10-mm stone was extracted. On the first postoperative day, she developed a temperature of 38.5 °C and produced a feculent vomit. A plain abdominal radiograph showed distended small-bowel loops. Her arterial blood gases were normal but her white cell count was elevated at 16.2 × 109/L, as was her C-reactive protein (CRP) at 268 mg/L. A repeat CT scan revealed an incarcerated inguinal hernia causing small-bowel obstruction ([Fig. 2]).She underwent an emergency laparotomy, which revealed the strangulated hernia ([Fig. 3 a]) with a segment of necrotic small bowel 270 cm from the ligament of Treitz ([Fig. 3 b]). This segment was resected using a linear stapler to create a stapled side-to-side anastomosis. The patient recovered well and was fit for discharge 4 days later.During any endoscopic procedure visualization of the lumen is achieved by the insufflation of gas. However, because ambient “room air” is not well absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, it must either be suctioned at the end of the procedure or be passed through the gastrointestinal tract as flatus [1]. ERCP can lead to prolonged examination time and overinsufflation [2]. More pertinently it may cause bowel hyperextension limiting the flexibility of the endoscope. It has previously been reported that this may cause barotrauma resulting in perforation or abdominal compartment syndrome [1]. [...].