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Background An enterothorax with herniation of bowel segments through a diaphragmatic defect is a rare postoperative complication, which can occur in the early postoperative period as well as several months or even years after the primary procedure. In virtually all cases, this diagnosis requires surgical treatment with reposition of the herniated structures and closure of the diaphragmatic defect. The aim of this study was to describe a larger case series of a rare complication and to present a review of the literature. Material and Methods The data of all patients treated for postoperative enterothorax at our centre were retrospectively analysed with a special focus on time of occurrence, type of clinical symptoms, surgical treatment and postoperative morbidity. Results From March 2007 to October 2014, twenty patients underwent surgery due to postoperative enterothorax. Six cases (30 %) were early postoperative complications (mean 10th postoperative day); in 14 patients (70 %) the enterothorax presented with delay (mean 42 months after primary surgery). The variance of the clinical symptoms was wide, but in the majority of cases, patients presented with symptoms of ileus or new-onset dyspnoea. In two patients (10 %) the diagnosis was an incidental finding without clinical symptoms. Computed tomography (CT) was performed in 70 % (n = 14), chest X-rays in 30 % (n = 6) of patients for diagnosis. Immediate laparotomy was performed in 15 % (n = 3) of cases. The diaphragmatic defect involved the left side in 75 % of cases (n = 15). Surgical treatment was performed via laparotomy in all patients. The diaphragm was closed by a direct suture in 70 % of patients (n = 14); in six patients (30 %) an augmentation (mesh or tissue patch) was added. Overall postoperative morbidity was 55 %; for elective operations it was 0 %. One patient died in the further postoperative course. Conclusion Postoperative enterothorax may occur early or years after primary surgery. Surgical treatment should be performed in a timely manner even in asymptomatic patients to avoid further complications., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)