CASE REPORTS   

Minerva Chirurgica 2008 April;63(2):169-74

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A rare presentation of Amyand’s hernia. Case report and review of the literature

Nigri G., Costa G., Valabrega S., Aurello P., D’Angelo F., Bellagamba R., Lauro A., Ramacciato G.

Divisione di Chirurgia Generale II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia Policlinico Sant’Andrea Università di Roma La Sapienza II, Roma

Amyand’s hernia is defined as an inguinal hernia within the hernial sac containing the appendix. It is a rare disease, reported in 1% of cases of inguinal hernia repair. The appendix can be complicated by acute appendicitis in 0.13% of cases. This disease is often very difficult to diagnose, and most of the time it can be confused with an incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernia. Often, it requires an emergent surgical treatment. This article describes the case of a 82-year-old female who was admitted for an intestinal obstruction and a bulge in the right inguinal region. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed dilated small bowel loops with multiple air/liquid levels and one loop herniating into the right inguinal canal. The patient underwent a laparotomy that showed the presence of an acute appendicitis and a necrotized ileal loop protruding into the right inguinal canal. The patient underwent an appendectomy and small bowel resection and she was discharged on postoperative day 10. Amyand’s hernia can be a challenge for the surgeon. Its treatment depends on the grade of inflammation of the appendix. In fact, it can range from the simple repair of the abdominal defect with a prosthetic mesh, to appendectomy, small bowel resection and repair of the abdominal wall defect without a mesh.