An unusual reason for an inguinal swelling: De Garengeot's hernia. Issue 3 (22nd March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sommerhalder, Barbara; Burger, Reint; Bueter, Marco; Thalheimer, Andreas
• Is Part Of: Journal of surgical case reports. Volume 2021:Issue 3(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-22
• Subjects: Surgery -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 617.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjab083
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-8812

Abstract

Abstract: We present the case of a 71-year-old female with an inguinal swelling. Intra-abdominally the appendix was found in a femoral hernia sac (De Garengeot's hernia). A laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal hernia repair procedure was performed with uneventful post-operative course. Clinical presentation of this type of hernia is unspecific and often not to be distinguished from a common incarcerated hernia. Computed tomography can be helpful in obtaining a diagnosis, although the definite diagnosis is mostly found intraoperatively. As surgical options are numerous, there is no consensus on the most suitable one. A laparoscopic approach incorporates the benefit of a total abdominal overview and the possibility of standard procedures. If the appendix appears normal, the use of synthetic mesh is considered safe and an incidental appendectomy is not necessarily required.