A Case of Supravesical Hernia with Typical Computed Tomography Images

Abstract

These computed tomography (CT) images describe the case of a supravesical hernia, in a 63-year-old man who underwent orthopedic surgery to correct fractures of the left radius and left ala of the sacrum. The patient complained of abdominal pain on postoperative day 11. The CT images on postoperative day 14 showed a strangulated small bowel obstruction. The patient displayed slight abdominal distention but no muscular defense or inguinal masses and underwent an emergency laparotomy. The small bowel incarcerated 7 cm into the left supravesical fossa. The hernial orifice measured roughly 2 cm and was sutured. While we could not confirm a preoperative diagnosis, CT images revealed a sac-like small bowel loop in the dorsal left abdominal muscle excluding the urinary bladder. These CT findings are characteristic of supravesical hernias.