Petersen Hernia After Abdominoplasty: A Provocative Factor or a Coincidence?

Abdominal contouring procedures are frequently performed following massive weight loss after a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. This last procedure can be associated with late complications like the development of internal hernias (e.g., Petersen hernia). The purpose of this article is to present a case of Petersen hernia after complete abdominoplasty. A 42-year-old female presented to the emergency department with acute abdominal pain three days after undergoing a complete abdominoplasty following massive weight loss post laparoscopic gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y). The patient was diagnosed with a mechanical small bowel obstruction, likely due to an internal hernia (Petersen hernia) and underwent surgical correction. Gastric bypass surgery may be associated with small bowel obstruction from internal herniation. A sudden rise in abdominal pressure, as occurs with abdominoplasty with rectus plication and subsequent use of compression garments, may result in strangulation and intestinal ischemia. A high degree of suspicion of intra-abdominal complications after abdominoplasty is essential, particularly in the setting of post-bariatric surgery.