INDUCED pneumoperitoneum is often used in the preoperative preparation of patients prior to the repair of large abdominal hernias. Since it was introduced by Moreno,1 its safety and efficacy have been established. We have encountered an apparently unreported complication of this procedure which is troublesome and probably avoidable.
Report of a Case
This man (LH 021843) underwent exploratory laparotomy on June 21, 1965, for a stab wound of the abdomen. Two jejunal lacerations were sutured through a right paramedian incision. His postoperative course was complicated by wound infection and dehiscence. The wound healed secondarily and a large ventral hernia developed.The patient was readmitted on Dec 2, 1966, for elective repair of his incision. Because of the large hernia, (20 × 15 × 15 cm) and the patient's obesity, he was prepared preoperatively with induced pneumoperitoneum. On Dec 2, 1966, 500 ml of air was administered intraperitoneally via a