Small bowel explosion: a complication of strictureplasty.

Explosion injury to the intestinal tract resulting from electrocautery is a rare occurrence. Only two small bowel explosions have been described previously. Here we describe an explosion of small bowel during strictureplasty in a patient with chronic obstructing Crohn's disease. Recommendations to avoid this disastrous complication include proximal decompression prior to incision and, in some cases, it may be wise to avoid electrocautery altogether.