Published online Dec 26, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i36.11355
Peer-review started: April 27, 2021
First decision: June 5, 2021
Revised: June 6, 2021
Accepted: August 16, 2021
Article in press: August 16, 2021
Published online: December 26, 2021
Processing time: 240 Days and 11 Hours
An incarcerated hernia is a common cause of acute abdominal pain. There are various types of incarcerated hernias, including incarcerated hernias of the appendix. These hernias are often complicated by appendiceal inflammation, necrosis, and suppuration, which affect the outcome of surgical repair. A De Garengeot hernia is a femoral hernia that contains the appendix. This type of hernia has a low incidence. When a De Garengeot hernia is clinically suspected, emergency surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible.
A 59-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with a painful right inguinal mass that had suddenly developed 6 hours earlier. Physical examination revealed a 4 cm × 2 cm palpable mass in the right groin. The mass was hard and could not be reduced due to tenderness. It did not descend into the scrotum. B-ultrasound revealed an incarcerated hernia. During surgery, the hernia was found to contain the appendix, which exhibited distal avascular necrosis. A De Garengeot hernia was diagnosed according to the classification criteria of this type of inguinal hernia. Laparoscopic reduction of the incarcerated hernia, appendectomy, and small-incision femoral hernia repair were performed in the emergency department, and cefuroxime was administered as anti-infection therapy for 2 d postoperatively. After treatment, the patient had no abdominal pain or infection and was discharged on postoperative day 4. He had no recurrence of the inguinal hernia after 16 months of follow-up.
De Garengeot hernias have a low incidence and are difficult to diagnose. Laparoscopy is useful for their diagnosis and treatment.
Core Tip: Clinicians should be aware of the fact that a De Garengeot hernia has a low incidence and is difficult to diagnose in the early stages. When a De Garengeot hernia is clinically suspected, B-ultrasound or computed tomography and emergency surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible. Laparoscopy is useful for the diagnosis and treatment of De Garengeot hernias and is thus worthy of clinical application.