"Paratransplant" hernia. Three patients with a new variant of internal hernia.

Three cases of bowel obstruction due to internal hernia caused by entrapment of bowel or omentum through a defect in the peritoneum covering the transplanted kidney are described. All three patients survived due to early surgical intervention and reduction of the hernia and/or resection of necrotic bowel or omentum. In view of the high mortality of peritonitis in transplant patients, early surgical treatment is indicated in all cases of intestinal obstruction to avoid the sequelae of bowel infarction. This "paratransplant" hernia represents the newest type of internal hernia described.