“Inadvertent enterotomy (IE) is one of the underreported complications in abdominal surgery. Krabben et al reported a 19% incidence of IE in patients who had a repeat
laparotomy. The incidence of and risk factors for IE during enterolysis were reported in a cohort of patients reoperated on. According to Krabben et al, the risk of inadvertent enterotomy in open surgery is more than 10-fold in patients with a history of 3 or more previous laparotomies.”

“Inadvertent enterotomy in laparoscopic abdominal surgery is especially dangerous if unrecognized during the primary operation. The incidence of IE can be significantly reduced with careful individualized risk assessment. Only surgeons who are trained in advanced
laparoscopy should attempt complicated cases and must always be wary of possible bowel injury. Any patient with signs of peritonitis, sepsis, or increased abdominal pain after laparoscopic surgery must promptly be investigated. The department culture of intraoperative cooperation helped improve outcomes.”

Binenbaum, Steven J, and Michael A Goldfarb. “Inadvertent enterotomy in minimally invasive abdominal surgery.” JSLS : Journal of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons vol. 10,3 (2006): 336-40.