Laparoscopic Reduction and Repair of a Foramen of Winslow Internal Hernia

Ivy N. Haskins, MD; Richard Thompson, MD; Timothy M. Farrell, MD, FACS

Product Details
Product ID: ACS-5732
Year Produced: 2019
Length: 9 min.


Internal hernias through the Foramen of Winslow are rare, accounting for less than 8% of all internal hernias. There are many predisposing risk factors, including previous surgery with entry into the lesser sac, an elongated right lobe of the liver, and a mobile right colon. After reduction of an internal hernia through the Foramen of Winslow, the decision to repair the defect depends on the size of the defect and the risk for vascular injury and/or thrombus formation. This video details laparoscopic reduction and repair of a Foramen of Winslow internal hernia in a 75 year-old female with a past surgical history significant for a Type 3 Hiatal Hernia Repair. She presented to an outside hospital for further evaluation of sudden and severe right upper quadrant abdominal pain. A computed tomography scan was performed which revealed an internal hernia involving her cecum and right colon through her Foramen of Winslow. She was urgently taken to the operating room. The cecum and right colon were reduced out of the Foramen of Winslow, revealing a large defect. Therefore, we chose to close it using multiple interrupted sutures as well as the falciform ligament. The cecum and right colon were pexied to the lateral abdominal wall to prevent re-migration out of their normal anatomic position. The patient was discharged to home on postoperative day number two.