A case of synchronous bilateral obturator hernias reduced spontaneously

Abstract

A 84–year–old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain and abrupt nausea. The patient was immediately diagnosed as having ileus after receiving an abdominal X–ray examination. Pelvic CT scan revealed incarcerated small intestine between the pectineus muscle and external obturator muscles on both side. Diagnosis of incarcerated bilateral hernias was made, but the symptoms disappeared after the CT scan examination. Pelvic CT scan was performed again and it demonstrated no incarceration of small intestine. This finding confirmed that incarcerated obturator hernias had been reduced spontaneously. Thereafter, an elective laparotomy to repair the hernia using a mesh was carried out. A polypropylene mesh was attached to the peritoneum covering the obturator foramen, and the peritoneum was closed. The postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient was discharged from our hospital 10 days after the operation.
Only 19 cases of synchronous bilateral obturator hernias, including the present case have been reported in Japan, and no case of spontaneously reduced synchronous bilateral obturator hernias has been reported.