Large gut fistula due to a protruding spiral tacker after laparoscopic repair of a ventral hernia.

Tackers (mesh fixation devices) are often used for securing the mesh in the laparoscopic repair of ventral, inguinal and hiatus hernia. By and large, their use is safe but occasionally the tackers are the cause of postoperative complications. Small gut perforations have been reported previously. We report here a case of large gut fistula secondary to an injury by a protruding tacker in the abdominal cavity presenting twenty days after the laparoscopic repair of a ventral hernia.