Abstract
A 92-year-old man who had a right inguinal hernia previously wore a hernia belt (truss) and taxis when needed. He experienced intense abdominal pain immediately after taxis of the incarcerated hernia. Abdominal CT showed thickening of the intestinal wall and a partially retained, moderate amount of ascites, but no free air. We diagnosed the patient with acute peritonitis and performed emergency laparotomy. A perforation site was found in the small intestine on the opposite side of the mesentery, and a large amount of digestive fluid and food residue had escaped into the peritoneal cavity. Histopathological findings showed no evidence of ischemic changes in the resected intestine. Additionally, in light of the onset and course, it was suggested that the intestine had instantaneously ruptured as a result of external force due to taxis. A search for literature online revealed no papers regarding efficacy of using hernia belt. Given this experience, we should raise awareness of the risk associated with the use of the hernia belt and consider surgery for treatment of inguinal hernia, regardless of age.
