Obturator hernia (the little old lady's hernia) diagnosed via computed tomography: a case report.

Abstract

Obturator hernia is an infrequent clinical entity of abdominal wall hernia, accounting for an incidence rate ranging from 0.073 to 2.2% of all hernias and being responsible for 0.2-1.6% of all cases of mechanical intestinal obstruction. The computed tomography (CT) scan, as an imaging modality, is critical in improving the diagnostic rate of obturator hernia.

Case presentation:

The authors herein report an 87-year-old thin male patient with a known history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who presenting with complaints of abdominal pain for 3 days and constipation for 2 days, as well as one episode of vomiting without any features of peritoneal irritation, which was diagnosed early as a right-sided obturator hernia via CT and managed with exploratory laparotomy with hernia reduction and polypropylene mesh repair.

Discussion:

Obturator hernia is a rare surgical phenomenon with a varied clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic to presenting as intestinal obstruction. The CT scan plays a critical role in the detection of obturator hernias, which ameliorates the possible significant postoperative morbidity and mortality.

Conclusion:

This report demonstrates that a high index of suspicion combined with CT imaging aids in early diagnosis and management, thus overcoming the reluctant morbidity.

• Authors: Sujan Bohara, Samikshya Karki, Anu Gautam, Binit U Regmi, Sabin Rimal, Laxman Khadka, Anuj Pokharel, Bibek Gurung, Sushil B Rawal
• Journal: Annals of medicine and surgery (2012) (Ann Med Surg (Lond)) Vol. 85 Issue 4 Pg. 1282-1285 (Apr 2023) ISSN: 2049-0801 [Print] England
• PMID: 37113834 (Publication Type: Case Reports)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.