Symptomatic internal hernia of the broad ligament: a complication of electrocoagulation therapy of endometriosis.

A 31-year-old nulligravid woman had had two previous laparoscopies for endometriosis. Disease of the right broad ligament was treated by electrocoagulation at the first surgery, but pain persisted despite postoperative danazol therapy. At her second laparoscopy, a large defect of the right broad ligament was noted, but not treated. At her third operation, laparoscopic excision of endometriosis was followed by herniorrhaphy of the right broad ligament through mini-laparotomy. The potential for bowel herniation exists whenever a closed loop is present in the abdominal cavity.