Obturator hernia--a condition seldom thought of and hence seldom sought.

PURPOSE: Obturator hernia is an extremely rare type of hernia with an incidence of less than 1% of all abdominal wall hernias occurring predominantly in elderly females characterized by protrusion of the intra-abdominal viscera into the obturator foramen. It presents with pain along the medial aspect of the thigh referred to the knee due to compressed obturator nerve and sometimes as an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction. It remains a clinical diagnostic dilemma and often perplexing the decision for surgery. This explanatory review emphasizes and illuminates its various facets under the rationale of its diagnosis and management to familiarize surgeons with the condition. METHODS: The data for the present review was obtained by searching in PubMed and other databases using key terms "obturator hernia", "abdominal hernia", "intestinal obstruction", and "Howship-Romberg sign". Many original articles, reviews, and case reports were selected. RESULTS: Since it is very rare that a mass can be found on inspection of the medial aspect of the thigh and the clinical signs are not always present, hence obturator hernia is a condition which leads to both difficult and delayed clinical diagnosis and consequently having a significant morbidity and mortality rates, especially in the elderly. CONCLUSION: Obturator hernia should always be in the differential diagnosis in septuagenarian to nonagenarian patients with nonspecific signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction. Computed tomography of abdomen and pelvis has been found to be the gold standard for preoperative diagnosis and this condition necessitates immediate surgical reduction and repair of the defect either by open or laparoscopic approach.

Therapeutic Strategy for Incarcerated Obturator Hernia Using Preoperative Manual Reduction and Laparoscopic Repair.

BACKGROUND: Obturator hernia (OH) is a rare but serious disease associated with high morbidity and mortality due to advanced patient age and comorbidities. This study evaluated the feasibility of a laparoscopic approach to OH. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 32 patients (median age 84 years; 31 women) with OH treated between 2003 and 2016. RESULTS: Five patients with incidental OH underwent total extraperitoneal (TEP) repair. Of 27 patients with incarcerated OH, 18 patients underwent laparotomy, 13 of which required bowel resection, and the remaining 9 patients underwent preoperative ultrasound-guided manual OH reduction. Of 6 patients with successful OH release, 3 and 2 patients underwent TEP and transabdominal preperitoneal repair, respectively, and 1 patient declined the operation. Three patients with failure underwent laparoscopic exploration and conversion to open operation for bowel resection. Comparing the open and laparoscopic groups, the median operation times were 67.5 minutes vs 124 minutes, respectively (p = 0.004); median postoperative stay was 19 vs 11 days, respectively (p = 0.028); and Clavien-Dindo grade II or higher complications tended to be lower (28% vs 8%, respectively; p = 0.359). Even in patients without bowel resection, the median postoperative stay was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic group compared with the open group (7.5 vs 15 days, respectively; p = 0.032). During a mean follow-up of 24.5 months, the 3-year recurrence rate for OH was 25% for non-mesh repair and 0% for mesh repair (p = 0.335). Three- and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 83% and 71%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic operations after ultrasound-guided manual reduction can be an alternative to emergent laparotomy in select OH patients.

Sixty-one cases of obturator hernia in Chiangrai Regional Hospital: retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To review the patient characteristics and clinical symptoms, intraoperative finding and management, including morbidity and mortality rate of obturator hernia cases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed in 61 patients diagnosed as obturator hernia at Chiangrai Regional Hospital between January 2000 and December 2005. RESULTS: The incidence of obturator hernia is 61 of 2,828 cases (2.2%) of all hernias, female:male 6.6:1. The mean age was 72.85 years. The mean body weight was 35.72 Kg. Howship-Romberg's sign were positive in eight patients (13.11%). Thirty-five patients (57.38%) were Richter type hernia, left:right side 3:2. Strangulation of bowel occurred in 41 patients (67.21%) Mortality rate was 11.47%. All patients with postoperative complications and all deaths showed bowel strangulation and all were more than 70 years of age. CONCLUSION: In the present study, the authors found a high incidence of obturator hernia (2.2% of all hernias) compared with a previous report (0.05%-1.4% of all hernias). This high incident rate might relate to the specific local life style of people in Chiangrai as most patients had a habit of smoking. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), old age, and low body weight were possible contributing factors. Bowel strangulation and age more than 70 years old were associated with morbidity and mortality.

[Other abdominal wall hernias]. / Autres hernies des parois de l'abdomen.

This paper is compound of diverse hernias of the antero-lateral and pelvic abdominal walls. Their unequal frequency is reflected by the unequal length of the related paragraphs. Their diverse anatomical sites are unified by the presence of a weak area defined by the absence of voluntary striated muscular fibers (those which are able to resist the intra-abdominal pressure waves). Their diagnosis, often difficult, ought to be better known and done prior to often deadly strangulation. Their treatment, at times discussed, can benefit from some progresses, like the use of prosthetic materials and, perhaps, calioscopic procedures; only an operation in due time can avoid the threatening strangulation of bowel.

Non-operative management of obturator hernia in an elderly female.

Obturator hernia is a rare surgical condition, with about 800 cases being reported in the literature. It can cause significant morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly age group. Delayed treatment is associated with high rates of strangulation (25-100 %). The mainstay of management for obturator hernia has been surgical. Non-operative management can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, but may be an option in patients who decline surgery, as described in our case.

The maneuver to release an incarcerated obturator hernia.

An obturator hernia occurs through the pelvic obturator canal, a rigid ring made up of the underside of the superior pubic ramus and the obturator fascia. Obturator hernias have been associated with a high mortality due to the difficulty in diagnosis and the population in which it occurs. We examined four patients diagnosed with incarcerated obturator hernia, and showed that the strangulated intestine was not necrotic. We flexed the diseased leg calmly and repeatedly with slight rotation toward the outside and slight adduction toward the inside at supine position. The pain vanished suddenly during this maneuver. After this maneuver, the patients were able to undergo elective surgery after a certain interval. We discuss the possible use of this maneuver to release an incarcerated obturator hernia.

Hernia obturatriz complicada. Conducta diagnóstica y terapéutica / COMPLICATED OBTURATOR HERNIA. DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT

La hernia obturatriz tiene una baja incidencia, predomina en mujeres ancianas desnutridas, habitualmente con signos y síntomas poco específicos, situación que requiere resolución quirúrgica precoz para disminuir la morbi-mortalidad. Materiales y métodos: Análisis retrospectivo observacional sobre tres casos de oclusión intestinal por hernia obturatriz en el servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Italiano de Córdoba entre el período comprendido desde enero de 2013 a diciembre de 2015. Resultados: Los tres pacientes fueron diagnosticados por TC en el preoperatorio, en dos se debió realizar resección intestinal y entero-entero anastomosis. Conclusión: la cirugía de urgencia es el tratamiento ideal

Obturator hernia is a rare type of hernia. Because of its low incidence, predominantly in elderly malnourished women, usually with non- specific signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. This situation requires early surgical treatment to prevent serious morbidity and mortality associated with this entity. Methods: Retrospective observational analysis of 3 cases of intestinal occlusion due to complicated obturator hernia at the Department of General Surgery, Hospital Italiano Córdoba, Argentina, between January 2013 to December 2015. Results: All three cases were diagnosed preoperatively by CT , but in two of the three cases it was due to perform an intestinal resection with anastomosis. Conclusion: The surgery performed early after admission, is the treatment of choice.

Obturator hernia: diagnosis and treatment in the modern era.

INTRODUCTION: Obturator hernia is a rare variety of abdominal hernia that nonetheless is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly age group. This article aimed to review the diagnosis and management of obturator hernia by describing the anatomy, clinical presentation, predisposing factors, diagnostic modalities and management in the modern era. METHODS: We managed six cases of obturator hernia between 2003 and 2006. Five out of six cases were diagnosed by a preoperative computed tomography (CT) and the sixth case was diagnosed by ultrasonography. All except one were managed by an exploratory laparotomy and repair of the hernia, and one was treated with laparoscopic repair. RESULTS: Correct preoperative diagnosis was made in five out of five (100 percent) patients by clinical signs and CT of the abdomen and pelvis, and the sixth patient was operated on the basis of an ultrasonographical diagnosis and strong clinical suspicion. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the rapid evaluation by CT of the abdomen and pelvis and surgical intervention are possible, thereby reducing the morbidity and mortality of patients with obturator hernia. An algorithm for the management of obturator hernia is proposed.

CT findings in obturator hernia with Meckel's diverticulum--a case report.

Obturator hernia is rare, constituting <2% of all abdominal hernias. Clinical diagnosis is rarely made due to vague signs and symptoms. Delayed diagnosis markedly increases postoperative morbidity and mortality especially because the affected patients are often old with other comorbid conditions. Pelvic CT is almost 100% accurate in the diagnosis of obturator hernia and should be the modality of choice in older patients presenting with intestinal obstruction of unknown etiology.

Obturator hernia: a difficult diagnosis.

We have presented the case of an elderly woman with severe kyphoscoliosis, osteoarthritis and left knee effusion who had symptoms and signs of intermittent intestinal obstruction. Operation showed a left-sided obturator hernia. In any elderly, debilitated, chronically ill woman, symptoms and signs of recurrent small-bowel obstruction (without a history of abdominal surgery or external hernias) and pain along the ipsilateral thigh and knee (Howship-Romberg sign) should raise suspicion for an obturator hernia. If the hernia is not palpable by physical examination, a CT scan of the pelvis and upper aspect of the thigh would confirm the diagnosis before operation and allow prompt treatment and better chance of patient survival.

Gangrenous appendicitis in a strangulated obturator hernia.

Only two cases of appendicitis in strangulated obturator hernia have been previously reported. In the present case, an 83-year-old woman had fatal anaerobic myonecrosis of the thigh that resulted from gangrenous appendicitis in the right obturator foramen. Early diagnosis, prompt surgical intervention, and perioperative resuscitation are critical for survival in a case of appendicitis in a strangulated obturator hernia with thigh sepsis, especially when it occurs in an elderly, emaciated female patient.