Recurrent Spigelian hernia: a rare cause of colonic obstruction

Spigelian hernia is considered a surgical rarity. Recent articles describe only six recurrent hernias and a scant number of patients with colonic obstruction resulting from incarceration. A patient with intestinal obstruction resulting from recurrent Spigelian hernia with strangulated colon is described. The patient underwent tension-free repair using a prosthetic mesh. Recent literature suggests that the deficiency of connective tissue in patients with hernias justifies the widespread use of permanent mesh for tissue reinforcement and avoidance of recurrences. The rare case presented should be regarded as an illustrative example for application of the tension-free repair principle in the definitive management of recurrent Spigelian hernia. Electronic Publication     

The open mesh repair of Spigelian hernia

BACKGROUND: Spigelian hernias are rare defects of the abdominal wall usually appearing between the abdominal muscles, lateral to the rectus abdominis and through a debilitated Spigelian aponeurosis. Recently, mesh repair has been introduced for the treatment of these types of hernias and different approaches have been proposed. METHODS: Nine patients with Spigelian hernia were prospectively treated by placing a mesh prosthesis between the external oblique and the internal oblique muscles, based on principles of mesh repair established by the Lichtenstein group. RESULTS: Five women and 4 men, mean age 75.7 years, were operated on. In 1 patient the Spigelian hernia was an incidental finding during an inguinal hernia repair. Two patients were operated on an emergency basis. Elective operations were undertaken in ambulatory facilities in 3. Two patients had postoperative ecchymosis with no associated morbidity. No recurrences have been observed during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Open mesh repair of Spigelian hernias placing the mesh between the external and internal oblique muscles is a simple and safe approach that can prevent morbidity related to other techniques.     

Spigelian hernias: repair and outcome for 81 patients

Spigelian hernia is a rare partial abdominal wall defect. The frequent lack of physical findings along with vague associated abdominal complaints makes the diagnosis elusive. A retrospective review of Mayo Clinic patients was performed to find all patients who had undergone surgical repair of a Spigelian hernia from 1976 to 1997. Patients were scrutinized for presentation, work-up, therapy, and outcome. The goal of this study was to obtain long-term outcome. The study was set in a tertiary referral center. There were 76 patients in whom 81 Spigelian hernias were repaired. Symptoms most commonly included an intermittent mass (n = 29), pain (n = 20), pain with a mass (n = 22), and bowel obstruction (n = 5). Five patients were asymptomatic. Preoperative imaging was performed in 21 patients and correctly diagnosed the hernia in 15. Spigelian hernias were repaired by primary suture closure (n = 75), mesh (n = 5), and laparoscopic (n = 1) techniques. Eight patients (10%) required emergent operations. Thirteen hernias (17%) were found to be incarcerated at the time of the operation. Overall mean follow-up for the 76 patients was 8 years, with three hernia recurrences identified. Spigelian hernia is rare and requires a high index of suspicion given the lack of consistent symptoms and signs. An astute physician may couple a proper history and physical examination with preoperative imaging to secure the diagnosis. Mesh and laparoscopic repairs are viable alternatives to the durable results of standard primary closure. Given the high rate of incarceration/strangulation, the diagnosis of Spigelian hernia is an indication for surgical repair.     

Giant Spigelian hernia associated with inguinal hernia. Repair with polypropylene prosthesis

Spigelian or lateral ventral hernia is a rare pathology, representing about 2% of all abdominal wall hernias. This kind of hernia can be found in the area limited from the umbilicus and anterosuperior iliac spine, near the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis. The authors describe a rare case of "giant" Spigelian hernia related with homolateral direct inguinal hernia. A seventy-year-old and obese patient had a painless huge intumescence in the right side of periumbilical area, and besides--he had a homolateral direct inguinal hernia. Abdominal computerized tomography visualized a hernial gap, which diameter is larger than 7 cm, in pararectal subumbilical site and a wide herniated bowel in interaponeurotic site. This double hernial pathology has been treated in an only solution, placing an only subfascial polypropylene prosthesis, overlapping both hernial defects. The authors believe prosthetic "tension free" repair, previous suture of the defect, represents a gold standard in the treatment of Spigelian hernia. Such refined technique allows an effective repair especially when aponeurotic defect is out of size and/or is related with subsequent homolateral hernia, also allowing an early patient's rehabilitation.     

Epiploic appendagitis in a Spiegel hernia: A case report and review of the literature

IntroductionSpigelian hernia is a rare differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. It affects mainly women above the fifth decade of life, more on the left side than on the right side, usually with comorbidities that lead to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure, described as risk factors for the outbreak of ventral hernias. The content of a ventral hernia might be an epiploic appendix and lead to appendagitis.Presentation of caseThis article presents the case of an 82-year-old female patient who presented epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia.DiscussionSpigelian hernia is a rare type of ventral hernia, especially in association with an epiploic appendagitis. A literature search of this rare entity yielded three publications presenting epiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia. The initial approach after the diagnosis should be adequate analgesia associated with surgical correction of the hernia. There is no gold standard treatment for the repair. European and American societies suggest that if there is no palpable nodule, laparoscopic repair is preferable, always using a mesh.ConclusionEpiploic appendagitis in a Spigelian hernia is a rare condition whose diagnosis is a big challenge. However, the correct diagnosis can lead to a shorter hospital stay, with less cost and avoid the use of unnecessary medications.     

Bilateral Spigelian hernia treated by two‐layered prolene mesh

Spigelian hernia is an uncommon variety of abdominal hernias. It has been traditionally treated by tension‐free mesh hernioplasty. We report a rare case of a bilateral Spigelian hernia in an elderly male that was treated by bilateral two‐layeyed prolene mesh hernia system. Rare ventral hernia such as Spigelian hernia with weak abdominal wall can be safely treated by tension‐free mesh repair using bilayered prolene mesh system.     

Incarcerated Spigelian hernia mimicking obstructing colon carcinoma

Spigelian hernia is a ventral abdominal hernia that only rarely causes incarceration or strangulation of the bowel. There are few reports in the surgical literature of colonic obstruction secondary to incarcerated Spigelian hernia. In this paper, we present a patient with an incarcerated sigmoid colon in a Spigelian hernia sac, mimicking on contrast enema an obstructing carcinoma. Accurate diagnosis was made pre-operatively by computed tomography (CT), and the hernia was repaired by polypropylene mesh in a tension-free manner.     

Spigelian hernia: an up-to-date

Nine cases of Spigelian hernia occurred and surgically treated in the years 1992-1997 are reported. Spigelian hernias were observed in 5 females and 3 males with mean age of 62.1 years (range 49-70). In 5 cases prosthetic repair has been done with preperitoneal mesh and a very good outcome. In a 61 years old obese female spigelian hernia was bilateral. Her left sided hernia needed an emergency operation for strangulation. Hernia has been repaired by simple suture and recurred early. For the diagnosis of Spigelian hernia it is essential to remember it inside the "Spigelian belt". The satisfactory results obtained at present by prosthetic repair are underlined.     

Emergency Intraperitoneal Onlay Mesh Repair of Incarcerated Spigelian Hernia

Background and Objectives:

Spigelian hernia is a rare cause of incarcerated ventral abdominal hernia that may pose a diagnostic dilemma. However, with the increasing utilization of double contrast computed tomography (CT) for undiagnosed small bowel obstruction in a virgin abdomen, more such cases are being diagnosed with increasing confidence. Furthermore, with the rapid expansion of the indications for minimal access surgery in emergency situations, these rare emergencies are increasingly tackled using a laparoscopic approach leading to swift patient recovery and discharge.

Methods:

We present the case of an emergency intraperitoneal onlay mesh (IPOM) repair of Spigelian hernia, causing acute small bowel obstruction in a 55-year-old man with liver disease and ascites that was diagnosed using a CT scan. We conducted a search of Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index, Current Contents, PubMed, and the Cochrane Database to review the history of laparoscopic repair of Spigelian hernia and its various advancements, which are briefly presented here.

Results:

The hernia was successfully reduced using laparoscopy, revealing a moderate-size defect in the linea semilunaris. The hernial defect was repaired with a composite mesh that was tacked into position. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the second postoperative day.

Conclusions:

Spigelian hernia in an emergency setting can be easily and swiftly repaired using the IPOM method utilizing a composite mesh.     

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of spigelian hernia.

BACKGROUND: A Spigelian hernia is a congenital defect in the transversus aponeurosis fascia. Traditionally, an anterior hernioplasty was used to repair these defects. This study aimed to document our experience with laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair for Spigelian hernia. METHODS: Eight patients underwent laparoscopic transabdominal Spigelian hernia repair. All patients underwent creation of a peritoneal flap, sac dissection, identification and approximation of the fascial defect, mesh reinforcement, and reperitonealization. RESULTS: All patients presented with pain. An intermittent palpable mass was noticed in 4 patients. One third of the patients had undergone prior surgery and none had an incisional hernia. Only 1 patient presented with severe pain for 1 day; however, there was no bowel strangulation intraoperatively. All patients underwent laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair. No postoperative complications occurred. There have been no recurrences at a mean follow-up of 41 months (range, 8 to 96). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair of Spigelian hernia is safe, easy, and feasible for experienced laparoscopic surgeons.     

Spigelian hernia: 3 case reports

Spigelian hernia is an uncommon hernia of the abdominal wall, often not easily diagnosed. Three cases of Spigelian hernia are reported. In the first patient it was an incidental discovery, in the second one hernia was complicated by strangulation of the small bowel, in the third patient hernia was symptomatic without complications. In all the patients, in their previous clinical history, an operation for hernia or other abdominal pathologies was observed. These patients were treated surgically, using direct reconstruction of the abdominal wall in two cases, while a non-absorbable mesh was positioned in the preperitoneal space in the third patient. The anatomopathological and clinical features of Spigelian hernia are described and the problems in diagnosis discussed; in addition, the importance of surgical cure in incidental hernia is underlined.     

Planned totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic Spigelian hernia repair

A Spigelian hernia is a congenital defect in the tranversus aponeurosis fascia. Traditionally, an open anterior hernioplasty was used to repair these defects. Recently, laparoscopic approaches have been described. This report describes the first application of the totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach to a planned repair of a Spigelian hernia. The patient was a 62-year-old white female with a reducible left lower quadrant anterior abdominal wall bulge consistent with a Spigelian hernia. At the time of surgery, we exposed the posterior rectus fascia and modified our extraperitoneal inguinal hernia technique by passing the balloon dissector in a more lateral orientation. This created a unilateral preperitoneal space with adequate room for dissection and mesh fixation. The Spigelian defect was easily identified. Its preperitoneal fat contents were reduced, and a 5-mm laparoscopic tacking device was used to secure a piece of prolene mesh. The patient was discharged home with no complications. Placement of the mesh in the preperitoneal space avoids direct interaction of the mesh prosthesis and the intraperitoneal viscera. In conclusion, we find that a laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal approach is technically feasible and advantageous when a Spigelian hernia is diagnosed preoperatively.     

Preperitoneal mesh repair in Spigelian hernia

The first Spigelian hernia was described in 1764. From April 1995 to April 2004, 29 patients underwent 35 Spigelian hernia repair operations in our department. The choice of primary closure or additional mesh was based on the condition of the local tissue. If the tissue appeared of good quality, primary closure was performed; if the tissue was of weak quality, an additional nonresorbable mesh was implanted to induce a stronger scar tissue. Twenty-one Spigelian hernias were repaired using the primary closure method. There were three radiological recurrences, one of which was symptomatic after 10 months and required reoperation. In 14 cases, an additional preperitoneal mesh was implanted. There was no radiological or clinical recurrence in this group. Spigelian hernia repair may therefore have a lower recurrence rate if a preperitoneal mesh is initially implanted.     

Spigelian hernia. Diagnosis and surgical treatment

Spigelian hernia (SH) is a rare partial abdominal wall defect; its manifestation is rare. Seven cases were observed--4 females and 3 males with mean age of 56.5 years (range 38-65)--in 857 patients operated for hernia (0.8%) between 1995 and 2003. Ultrasound examination avoid the diagnosis and marked the fascial defect, measuring diameter and sac contents. In all cases a surgical approach with an epicritic incision has be done and the fascia defect closed with properitoneal and subfascial polypropylene mesh (Prolene Hernia System, PHS). All patients underwent to follow-up demonstrating no recurrences or complications like mesh suppuration or dislocation.     

Spigel hernia: a single center experience in a rare hernia entity

Introduction

Spigelian Hernia (SH) is a rare ventral hernia with a high incarceration and obstruction risk. The purpose of this study is to present our experience in diagnosis and treatment of this rare hernia entity.

Materials and Method

Sixteen patients underwent surgery for SH between 2000 and 2010. Analysis parameters included demographic data, location of defect, diagnostic methods, mode of surgery, mode of anesthesia and postoperative outcome.

Results

Mean follow-up was 98?months. The gender bias was 37.5?%: 62.5?% (man: woman) with mean age of 56?years. The SH was right-sided in 56.25?%, left-sided in 37.5?% and bilateral in 6.25?% of the cases. The preoperative diagnosis was correct in 25?% of the cases. Eight patients (50?%) underwent elective surgery, and the other 8 patients (50?%) underwent surgical treatment on emergency basis. Two patients underwent open hernia repair by primary suture, 13 patients underwent open mesh repair and one patient underwent a laparoscopic mesh repair. Neither a major hernia repair-related complication nor mortality could be registered.

Conclusion

SH is a rare entity with a wide clinical spectrum and difficulties in preoperative diagnosis. Once the diagnosis of SH is established, a surgical treatment is indicated because of the high complication risk.     

Update on Spigelian Hernia: Diagnosis and Treatment by Means of Two Cases

The rarity of Spigelian hernias and the frequent subtle clinical findings can cause an important delay in diagnosis, especially in obese patients. Furthermore it has a high risk of incarceration. When this occurs, a fast recognition and adequate treatment are necessary. Treatment can be primary suture or mesh repair. More recently, the laparoscopic approach has become more popular. We present two cases of incarcerated Spigelian hernia and we give a review of the literature, with specific attention for the anatomical features and pathogenesis.     

Update on Spigelian hernia: diagnosis and treatment by means of two cases

The rarity of Spigelian hernias and the frequent subtle clinical findings can cause an important delay in diagnosis, especially in obese patients. Furthermore it has a high risk of incarceration. When this occurs, a fast recognition and adequate treatment are necessary. Treatment can be primary suture or mesh repair. More recently, the laparoscopic approach has become more popular. We present two cases of incarcerated Spigelian hernia and we give a review of the literature, with specific attention for the anatomical features and pathogenesis.     

Spigelian Hernia: a Diagnostic Dilemma and Laparoscopic Management

Spigelian hernias, also called as lateral ventral hernias, are rare hernias to present themselves in clinical practice. The significance of these hernias lies in the fact that they are commonly intraparietal hernias and are, hence, difficult to diagnose clinically. Moreover, the neck of these hernias is usually small, posing a fair risk of strangulation. With the advancement in laparoscopic hernia repair, there is evidence that Spigelian hernias too can be repaired laparoscopically, thereby causing less morbidity and shorter hospital stay. Here, we present a rare case of large Spigelian hernia that posed to us as a diagnostic dilemma. The symptoms, clinical findings, and ultrasound of the patient were not specific, and a CT scan had to be used as the measure to confirm the diagnosis. The patient was then managed successfully with laparoscopic intraperitoneal onlay mesh repair. The details of the case and a brief discussion are included.     

Computed tomographic diagnosis of obturator hernia and its surgical management: a case series

The obturator hernia is a rare type of hernia which usually presents in thin, elderly women. The preoperative diagnosis is typically difficult, with non-specific signs and symptoms which result in a delay in the diagnosis. It can also be an incidental finding at exploratory laparotomy for a patient with intestinal obstruction. The treatment is surgical. A series of four females with obturator hernia is presented. All patients presented with a history of intestinal obstruction and the hernia was diagnosed preoperatively by computed tomography. All patients underwent a preperitoneal mesh repair with a favourable outcome. The diagnosis and the surgical approach are discussed.