Early Postoperative Small Bowel Obstruction: Can We Blame the Drain?

Abstract

Abdominal drains are frequently used in both elective and emergency laparotomies, in order to prevent formation of postoperative collections in gravity-dependent positions or as means of early detection of postoperative hemorrhage and anastomotic leaks. Despite the benefits of their use, rare drain-related complications have been reported in the literature, including adhesional band formation and intestinal erosion. Herein, we present an extremely rare case of early, non-resolving postoperative small bowel obstruction after abdominoperineal resection for low rectal cancer, which was induced from firm extrinsic compression of the distal ileum by a corrugated pelvic drain.