A Case of Appendicitis Caused by Incarceration of the Ileocecum Within an Inguinal Hernia

Abstract

An 87–year–old male who visited a local clinic complaining of vomiting and anorexia was referred to our hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Physical examination on arrival revealed a swelling extending from the right groin to the scrotum. Abdominal CT showed a lumen structure existing in the inguinal canal toward the abdominal cavity. Surgery was performed under the suspected diagnosis of right incarcerated inguinal hernia. Intraoperative examination revealed incarceration of the ileocecum and findings suggestive of appendicitis. Therefore, appendectomy and inguinal hernioplasty were performed. The patient did not develop postoperative surgical site infection. In this patient, the appendicitis appeared to have been caused by strangulation of the appendix at the hernia orifice. Inguinal herniation of the ileocecum is relatively rare. There have been some reported cases of Amyand’s hernia, in which the appendix constitutes the contents of the inguinal hernia. We present this case of appendicitis which was caused by incarceration of the ileocecum in an inguinal hernia.