Inguinal herniation of a transplant ureter: rare cause of obstructive uropathy

We present a rare case of late renal allograft failure from ureteral obstruction resulting from inguinal herniation. A 72-year-old man presented with an elevated creatinine and hydroureteronephrosis of a transplanted kidney on ultrasound. Noncontrast computed tomography demonstrated an inguinal hernia containing ureter, and a nephrostomy tube was placed. The hernia and ureter were temporarily reduced during antegrade stent insertion. Creatinine normalized and we performed inguinal herniorrhaphy with polypropylene mesh. The ureter was not reimplanted. Renal function remained stable after nephrostomy tube removal. Simple herniorrhaphy without ureteral reimplantation may fix the case of ureteral obstruction from inguinal herniation.     

Urological findings in inguinal hernias: A case report and review of the literature

We report on a rare case of massive incarcerated inguinoscrotal bladder herniation in a direct hernia and present the review of the literature on urological findings in relation to the inguinal hernial sac. The English-based literature was searched using the words inguinal hernia, bladder, ureter, diverticule, and incarceration and discussed in relation to the present case. We found 190 cases of inguinal hernia associated with urological findings, such as herniation of the bladder, ureter, and diverticulum. We also found that 11.2% of these hernias were associated with urological malignancies and 23.5% of these were associated with a variety of complications. The high-risk patients, who are males, obese, older than 50 years and who have symptoms that indicate urological pathologies to a physician, are more likely to be in the high-risk group for bladder herniation.     

Not as Rare as Initially Described: Transplant Ureter Incarceration Within Inguinal Hernia. Two Cases,Literature Review,and Management Algorithm

BackgroundObstructive uropathy after kidney transplant can present as acute kidney injury, urosepsis, and more rarely kidney allograft failure. We present a recent series of 2 cases and a literature review of 1 late etiology of ureteric obstruction: incarceration of the transplant ureter within an inguinal hernia.MethodsWe reviewed 2 cases of patients with ureteric incarceration in an inguinal hernia after kidney transplant and conducted a contemporary structured literature review. Relevant patient factors, management decisions, operative approaches, and clinical outcomes were abstracted and summarized.ResultsTwo cases of ureteric involvement in an inguinal hernia from 2 institutions as well as a literature review of 14 case reports are provided. The clinical features most commonly associated with this condition were male sex, obesity, and decade or more delay between kidney transplantation and presentation. Preoperative management with nephrostomy tube with or without antegrade ureteric stent was most frequently employed. Ultimately, most patients underwent surgical hernia repair, which occasionally required additional surgery for distal ureteric resection or re-anastomosis.ConclusionsIncarceration of a transplant allograft ureter in inguinal hernia is likely not as rare as initially described, although a true incidence rate has not been established. This surgically correctible condition most frequently presents as a late complication after kidney transplantation. We present a management algorithm that can be used for the workup and treatment of patients with history of kidney transplant who present with ureteric obstruction owing to incarceration within an inguinal hernia.     

Inguino-scrotal hernia of a double district ureter: case report and literature review

Ureteral hernia is uncommon and usually misdiagnosed. From an anatomic point of view, we can distinguish between two uretero-inguinal hernias: intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal. Ureter inguinal hernias are nearly always indirect. This kind of hernia can include the ureter alone or, frequently, other abdominal sliding organs within the hernia sac (bladder, bowel tracts, etc.). Kidneys and urinary tracts present normal anatomic conformation, although renal ptosis may be found. As of July 2004, 139 cases of ureteral hernia had been described in the literature. Here we report a case of inguino-scrotal herniation of double district ureter and review the current literature to analyze the main clinical characteristics of this pathology and to establish pitfalls.     

Inguinoscrotal herniation of the ureter: Description of five cases

INTRODUCTIONDescent of the ureter into the inguinal canal or scrotum is rare but undoubtedly underreported. Most known cases were recognized at the time of surgery for hernia repair. We encountered five cases recently.PRESENTATION OF CASEWe reviewed the records and CT images of five patients with inguinal hernias containing a segment of the ureter. All of our cases, like most reported cases, featured obese adult males. Our cases had different outcomes, ranging from inadvertent injury of the displaced ureter to correction of the anomaly at the time of hernia repair.DISCUSSIONIn all of our cases, the affected ureter was displaced anteriorly from the psoas muscle by greater than 1 cm at the level of the L4 vertebra on abdominal CT. This association has not been previously described.CONCLUSIONPre-operative diagnosis by CT can prevent injury to the ureter. We hypothesize that anterior displacement of the ureter at the level of L4 as seen on CT may be predictive of inguinoscrotal herniation of the ureter.     

Intrascrotal herniation of the ureter

We describe one case of intra-scrotal hernia of the right ureter. The anomaly was recognized on a pre-operatory urogram. It was an extra-peritoneal ureteral hernia. There are two types of ureteral hernia: the para-peritoneal hernia with a peritoneal sac; the extra-peritoneal type with only a fatty hernia. The mecanism of the latter illustrated by our case is a prolapse of the retro-peritoneal fat. It is not possible to practice an urogram before the cure of every inguinal hernia, so the prevention in this rare situation of the damage of ureter is to be cautious in the resection of huge lipomas and sliding fat when operating on inguinal hernias.     

Inguino-scrotal herniation of the ureter containing stones

Background

Inguino-scrotal herniation of the ureter is a rare and difficult situation for a surgeon, especially if only recognized during inguinal hernia repair.

Methods

An 83-year-old gentleman, with a previous history of radiation treatment for squamous anal cancer, presented with a large left inguinoscrotal hernia causing occasional pain at the base of the scrotum. Follow-up, post-radiation therapy CT scan showed a hernia sac containing the bladder and large bowel. Calcifications in the sac were interpreted as bladder stones, in keeping with the history of left renal calculi.

Results

During hernia repair careful dissection revealed a herniated portion of the left ureter located alongside a large hernia sac, complicated by ureteral calculi. Following stones extraction and ureteral repair, hernia repair with mesh was successfully accomplished. Pathogenesis of ureteric herniation is reviewed.

Conclusion

A herniated ureter is potentially a source of serious renal or ureteral complications. When discovered, ureteric hernias should be surgically repaired. If preoperative detection of a ureter herniation alongside an inguinal hernia is missed, awareness of the existence of this condition may help avoid iatrogenic ureteral damage injury during a complex hernioplasty. Documentation of unexplained, sizeable and distinct calcifications in an inguino-scrotal hernia sac, particularly in a patient with a history of urolithiasis, may suggest the presence of a herniated, calculus-filled ureter. In such cases, retrograde pyelograms may be considered for a definitive diagnosis prior to surgery.

     

Inguinal Bladder Hernia With Acute Ureteral Obstruction 14 Years After Kidney Transplantation: A Case Report

An 82-year-old man with a history of renal transplantation 14 years earlier presented with acute obstructive renal failure secondary to inguinal herniation of the urinary bladder complicated by ureteroneocystostomy entrapment. After percutaneous nephrostomy tube and endoscopic stent placement, the bladder was reduced and the hernia repaired with the use of a preperitoneal mesh. The postoperative course was uneventful and the renal function returned to normal. Inguinal herniation of the transplant ureter is a rare cause of hydronephrosis, but it has been described in the literature. Bladder hernias do usually not cause urologic complications in the nontransplanted patient, but they can present as an emergency after renal transplantation.     

Hernia uteri inguinale in an 18 months old female infant: A case report

IntroductionInguinal hernia is the most frequent hernia of childhood. About 15–20% of females with inguinal hernias, the ovaries and/or the fallopian tubes may be contents of the herniation sac. Meanwhile uterus is very rare to be encountered.Our aim is to alert Pediatric surgeons to such condition and remind them of the important technical steps to treat and manage this condition.Case reportElective surgery on an 18 months old female child with right inguinal hernia was performed electively through an open inguinal approach; the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovary were found in the hernia sac.DiscussionThe etiology of the hernia uterine inguinale in general is controversial, however there may be some degree of weakness of the uterine and ovarian suspensory ligament. Thompson noted that if there is failure of fusion of the Mullerian ducts, it leads to increase in the mobility of ovary and uterus, increasing the possibility of herniation of ovary, tubes and uterus. It was reported to be associated with disorders of sexual development.Surgical procedure for inguinal hernias containing uterus is often different from the ones containing only the ovary, as these organs are strongly attached to the hernia sac and it has to be freed from the wall of the hernia sac.ConclusionWe want to stress that in hernia uterii ovarii, dissection of the sac is essential for successful hernia repair unlike routine hernioraphy and to consider associated disorder of sexual differentiation.     

Surgical treatment of a canal of Nuck cyst presenting as a femoral hernia: An unusual case report

Introduction and importanceA canal of Nuck cyst forms because of a patent peritoneal fold evaginating through the inguinal canal in a female patient. It is a rare diagnosis because the canal often obliterates within the first year of a female patient's life. A persistent canal of Nuck may cause indirect inguinal hernias, or form hydroceles, termed canal of Nuck cysts. Here we report the first case of a canal of Nuck cyst discovered to be evaginating through the femoral canal.Case presentationA 70-year-old female patient initially presented with a symptomatic groin mass, and a suspected inguinal hernia on pre-operative ultrasound. Intraoperatively, she was found to have a canal of Nuck cyst terminating within the femoral canal. This was successfully repaired using a modified McVay approach, and approximation of the internal inguinal ring. She performed well post-operatively with no signs of recurrence at her six-month follow-up.Clinical discussionThis case report serves to highlight the canal of Nuck cyst, a rare embryologic remnant, and the first literature-reported femoral canal of Nuck cyst. We re-affirm the diagnostic unreliability of ultrasound imaging in the workup of groin hernias. Furthermore, we describe surgical techniques to repair a canal of Nuck cyst found within the femoral canal.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, no prior literature reports a canal of Nuck cyst presenting as a femoral hernia. This rare diagnosis may be encountered in common operations and is amenable to definitive repair using traditional hernia repair techniques.     

Non-obstructed femoral hernia containing ascending colon, caecum, appendix and small bowel with concurrent bilateral recurrent inguinal hernia

Femoral hernias, which are less common than inguinal hernias and more often found in females, occasionally contain more than just small intestine and omentum. Uncommon contents reported in femoral hernia sacs include caecum, appendix, Meckel’s diverticulum (Littre hernia), testis, ovary, transverse colon and even stomach or kidney. Strangulation of femoral hernias containing appendix, small intestine and caecum, and Meckel’s diverticulum are well reported in the literature. Here, we report a case of a male patient having bilateral femoral hernia with bilateral recurrent inguinal hernia. A huge, right-sided femoral hernia contained terminal ileum, appendix, caecum and ascending colon, which were irreducible but neither obstructed nor strangulated. The patient was operated on with a Pfannenstiel incision together with an infrainguinal incision. For reduction of content, an inguinal ligament was also incised. Bilateral preperitoneal, polypropylene mesh hernioplasty was performed along with rolled plug placement in the right femoral canal. The patient had an uneventful post operative recovery and no recurrence in 6 months of follow up.     

Obstructive Uropathy Secondary to Ureteral Herniation in a Pediatric En Bloc Renal Graft

Ureteral herniation is a rare entity. We report the first case of extraperitoneal ureteral herniation in a pediatric en bloc renal graft causing obstructive uropathy. A 70-year-old, obese patient with an en bloc renal transplant was found to have ureterohydronephrosis in the right renal graft on magnetic resonance imaging. Nephrostomy with insertion of a double-J catheter confirmed the presence of a ureteral loop within the inguinal tract. Surgery confirmed herniation of the ureter through the internal inguinal ring, crossing over the spermatic cord. We performed release, resection, ureteral reimplantation and hernioplasty. Four months later, renal function was normal and urinary tract dilation had diminished. This case illustrates an unusual cause of obstructive uropathy in a transplanted kidney. Apart from obesity, two other factors may have contributed to its development: presence of a redundant ureter, and the fact that the ureter had been placed over, rather than under, the spermatic cord.     

Inguinal Herniation Containing Bladder,Causing Contralateral Allograft Hydroureteronephrosis—A Case Report and Literature Review

We report the first documented case of an inguinal hernia containing bladder, resulting in contralateral allograft hydroureteronephrosis. A 39‐year‐old male patient presented with allograft dysfunction, a contralateral inguinoscrotal hernia, and marked hydroureteronephrosis on ultrasound (US). Percutaneous nephrostogram and a retrograde cystogram suggested bladder herniation with incorporation of the contralateral ureteroneocystostomy into the hernia. Paraperitoneal bladder herniation was confirmed at surgery and hernioplasty was performed. Six‐week follow‐up revealed normal renal function with no sign of hernia recurrence. Despite occurring rarely, transplant ureter or bladder herniation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hydroureteronephrosis. This case illustrates that the contralateral position of hernia to allograft does not necessarily preclude the hernia as the source of ureteric obstruction.     

Scrotal extraperitoneal hernia of the ureter: case report and literature review

Ureteral herniation is a rare, often misdiagnosed event and serious surgical complications are possible. Until 1992, 128 cases of ureteral herniation were reported and in 54 (42%) the inguino-scrotal region was involved. From an anatomical and pathogenic standpoint, two types of uretero-inguinal hernias can be identified: paraperitoneal (more frequent, acquired, always presenting a peritoneal hernia sac, frequently associated with other herniated abdominal structures) and extraperitoneal (very uncommon, congenital, never associated with a true peritoneal sac, always composed only of the ureter). We describe a new case of scrotal extraperitoneal ureteral hernia and review the current urological, surgical and radiological literature to analyze the main clinical characteristics of this pathology and its ideal treatment.     

An unusual cause of back pain in an achondroplastic man

A case is described of a 47-year-old man with achondroplasia who presented with lower back pain radiating to his left loin. An intravenous urogram (IVU) showed hydronephrosis on the left side and a dilated left ureter passing down into the left inguinal region. A CT scan confirmed a left inguinal hernia containing the left ureter causing ureteric obstruction. The hernia was repaired using the Lichtenstein technique with the ureter replaced retroperitoneally. A postoperative IVU showed recovery in renal function but with a persistently dilated left ureter that was not obstructed. A review of the literature regarding inguinal herniation involving the ureter is presented.     

Obturator hernia: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTIONAn obturator hernia is a rare condition but is associated with the highest mortality of all abdominal wall hernias. Early surgical intervention is often hindered by clinical and radiological diagnostic difficulty. The following case report highlights these diagnostic difficulties, and reviews the current literature on management of such cases.PRESENTATION OF CASEWe present the case of an 86-year-old lady who presented with intermittent small bowel obstruction, clear hernial orifices, and right medial thigh pain. Pre-operative CT imaging was suggestive of an obstructed right femoral hernia. However, intra-operatively the femoral canal was clear and an obstructed hernia was found passing through the obturator foramen lying between the pectineus and obturator muscles in the obturator canal.DISCUSSIONObturator hernias are notorious for diagnostic difficulty. Patients often present with intermittent bowel obstruction symptoms due to a high proportion exhibiting Richter's herniation of the bowel. Hernial sacs can irritate the obturator nerve within the canal, manifesting as medial thigh pain, and often no hernial masses can be detected on clinical examination. Increasing speed of diagnosis through early CT imaging has been shown to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with obturator hernias. However, over-reliance on CT findings should be cautioned, as imaging and operative findings may not always correlate.CONCLUSIONA high suspicion for obturator hernia should be maintained when assessing a patient presenting with bowel obstruction particularly where intermittent symptoms or medial thigh pain are present. Rapid clinical and appropriate radiological assessment, followed by early surgery is critical to successful treatment.     

Mind the gap – Small bowel obstruction due to preperitoneal herniation following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair – A case report

Introduction and importanceInguinal hernia repair is a very frequent operation in general and visceral surgery worldwide. The laparo-endoscopic approaches such as TAPP have gained increasing acceptance among specialists and many consider them as standard of care due to perioperative safety and excellent postoperative results. Knowledge of specific complications after minimally invasive inguinal hernia surgery, however, is important for the successful management of these patients.Case presentationWe herein present the case of a 75-year-old female patient who electively underwent laparoscopic repair of combined inguinal and femoral hernia. During the postoperative course a small bowel obstruction occurred requiring emergency re-laparoscopy revealing a preperitoneal herniation of small bowel through a peritoneal defect.Clinical discussionSmall bowel obstruction due to preperitoneal herniation of small bowel through a peritoneal defect after laparoscopic hernia repair is extremely rare. In such cases, emergency laparoscopic revision is necessary to avoid bowel ischaemia. Adequate closure of the peritoneum during the primary procedure along with the necessary attention to detail seems mandatory to avoid preperitoneal herniation after TAPP.ConclusionInadequate peritoneal closure after TAPP may lead to preperitoneal herniation of the small bowel leading to postoperative intestinal obstruction. All hernia surgeons should be aware of this rare, but potentially life-threatening complication and should close all peritoneal defects with greatest care and accuracy.     

Uncommon content in groin hernia sac

Groin hernia may have very unusual sac content. Vermiform appendix, acute appendicitis, ovary, fallopian tube and urinary bladder have been rarely reported. We aimed to present our experience with these unusual hernia contents. Records of 1,950 groin hernia patients were retrospectively analyzed. Vermiform appendix was found in 0.51% and acute appendicitis was found in 0.10% of groin hernia sacs. The incidence of appendix in femoral hernia was 5%, while inguinal hernia sac contained ovary and fallopian tube in 2.9% of the cases. The incidence of groin hernias containing urinary bladder was 0.36%. We also had 1 patient with incarcerated bladder diverticula in an indirect hernia sac. Iatrogenic bladder injury occurred in 2 patients. Although rare, a groin hernia sac may contain vermiform appendix and exceptionally acute appendicitis. Tubal and ovarian herniation in inguinal hernias can be found in adult and perimenopausal women with an incidence as high as in children. Urinary bladder hernia occurs with a similar incidence of tuba-ovarian hernia, however, it requires special attention because of a high risk of iatrogenic bladder injury during the inguinal dissection. Every effort should be made to preserve the organ found in hernia sac for an uneventful postoperative period.     

Analysis of risk factors for surgical site infection and postoperative recurrence following inguinal and femoral hernia surgery in adults

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the causes of complications following surgery for inguinal and femoral hernia, using surgical site infection (SSI) and recurrence rate as indicators of outcomes to consider appropriate treatments.MethodsWe retrospectively assessed the medical histories of 1,098 patients with adult inguinal and femoral hernias who underwent herniorrhaphy between July 2010 and March 2019. Using SSI and recurrence rate as indicators of outcomes, we statistically assessed the influence of preoperative and operative conditions on surgical outcomes.ResultsThe occurrence of postoperative SSI was significantly more frequent in patients who experienced a long surgical duration, excessive blood loss, and incarceration; underwent emergency surgery and bowel resection; and in whom no mesh sheet insertion was performed. There was no correlation between mesh use and SSI in cases that did not require emergency incarceration repair. For cases involving hernia incarceration, the use of a mesh sheet was avoided to prevent potential infection, which could explain the high incidence of SSI in cases where mesh was not used. The hernia may have recurred due to technical issues during the procedure, as well as failure to ligate the hernia sac.ConclusionsSelecting the appropriate surgical method for hernia repair may reduce the incidence of SSI. If manual reduction of inguinal hernias is not possible, an appropriate surgical procedure should be determined based on laparoscopic findings in facilities where laparoscopic hernia surgeries are frequently performed. Moreover, in cases without infection and bowel resection, mesh use may be beneficial. Recurrence can be prevented by ligating the hernia sac during surgery and solving relevant technical problems.     

Appendiceal perforation,necrotizing groin infection and spermatic cord necrosis in a case of Amyand’s hernia

IntroductionInguinal hernias containing the appendix are described as Amyand’s hernias. The surgical approach to these types of hernias is dependent on the type present and associated intra-operative findings.Presentation of caseWe present a case of complicated type IV Amyand’s hernia, which was managed though combined abdominal and inguinal approach. Though the patient had a prolonged post-operative course due to pulmonary embolism, he progressed to full recovery.DiscussionThe different grades of Amyand’s hernia are repaired in varying ways, including laparoscopic and open approaches with or without mesh. The type of repair must be tailored to the patient and disease process.ConclusionPrimary repair of a perforated Amyand’s hernia provides adequate strength with decreased risk of infection due to synthetic material.