Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Small bowel blood flow blocked by appendix wrapped after hernia mesh
By Ghoneim A et al.·2026·King Abdulaziz University·View original on Europe PMC →
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Original publication title: Small bowel ischemia caused by wrapping of the appendix around the small bowel after adhering to eroded mesh following elective laparoscopic TAPP repair.
Plain-English summary
A case was reported involving an elderly male dog who developed a serious bowel blockage after a surgical procedure to repair an inguinal hernia. During surgery, it was discovered that the tip of the appendix was stuck to a piece of mesh that had eroded, causing it to wrap tightly around a part of the small intestine. This wrapping led to a lack of blood flow to that section of the bowel, which is a serious condition. While complications from this type of surgery are known, this specific situation is quite rare. The treatment aimed at addressing the blockage and the mesh issue was necessary to prevent further health problems.
Abstract
Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair is the gold standard for treatment of inguinal hernia. Its complications are well known; however, its rare complications, such as mesh erosion and migration are commonly overlooked. There is established evidence about mesh complications; however, we have not found a similar case to what we encountered. We present a case of an elderly male who presented with a closed-loop bowel obstruction following a TAPP repair. Intraoperatively, the appendix tip was adherent to the eroded mesh through a defect in the peritoneal flap. The appendix formed a constricting wrap around the terminal ileum with a resultant ischemia of the bowel in the presence of a competent ileocecal valve. Reasons accounting to mesh erosion can be divided into primary and secondary causes. Complications from mesh erosion vary from fistulation up to bowel ischemia. Failure to recognize these complications can lead to considerable morbidity.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Europe PMC: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/41568299