Objective To present of laparoscopic primary repair of duodenal perforation after laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy for the patient with endometrial carcinoma.

Patients A 78-year-old woman with postmenopausal bleeding and thickened endometrium presented to our department. The histopathology of biopsied endometrium revealed grade 1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma. The MRI shows an about 5 cm sized tumor within the endometrial cavity suspicious myometrial invasion.

Interventions We perform the laparoscopic staging surgery. No intraoperative complications were recognized. However, on postoperative day 1, the color of intra-abdominal drainage change from serosanginous to dark green. We strongly suspected small bowel perforation and perform secondary laparoscopic surgery immediately. We scrutinized the small bowel and found the perforation site on duodenum. The perforation occurred at the horizontal part of duodenum ventrally vena cava. We carried out laparoscopic primary repair with 3–0 vicryl. Double layer closure was done by interrupted suture in first layer and Lambert suture for second layer. Then, we placed drainage into the duodenal repair site and traced the small bowel meticulously. We reviewed the video of primary surgery. We thought that the thermal injury was occurred by ultrasonic cutting and coagulating device during the lymphadenectomy in pre-caval area just below duodenum or mechanical micro-perforation is made during lifting the duodenum by dissecting forcep. After duodenal repair, endoscopically guided placement of nasogastric tube was performed. Gastrography did not show any leakage at the site of duodenal repair on postoperative day 3.

Conclusions Immediate laparoscopic primary repair of duodenal perforation after laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy is safe and feasible.