A case of obturator hernia showing spontaneous reduction and successfully treated by direct kugel patch via the inguinal approach

Abstract

An 84-year-old female developed paroxysmal right inguinal pain one year prior to admission. The pain had been present for a few days when abdominal MRI and CT scan revealed incarcerated small intestine between the right pectineus and internal obturator muscles. Incarcerated right obturator hernia was diagnosed, but the symptoms disappeared, Abdominal CT scan was performed again and demonstrated no small intestine incarceration. This finding confirmed that the incarcerated obturator hernia had been spontaneously reduced. Thereafter, we employed an inguinal approach. The hernia opening was closed using a Direct Kugel Patch. We confirmed adequate patch range by laparoscopy. This method appears to be a very beneficial approach in that it is less invasive and allows prevention of other hernias.