Right paraduodenal hernia: a source of chronic abdominal pain in the adult.

Right paraduodenal hernias are a relatively rare congenital malformation with a total of 50 clinical cases having been reported. This anomaly can be seen as total encapsulation of the small bowel or a single loop within a hernia sac. Symptoms are often chronic vague abdominal pain and intermittent obstructive episodes. Barium studies in patients with moderate and large defects, and angiography in small hernias may provide the diagnosis. The method of repair is dependent on the size of the hernia encountered. The management of two patients with this problem is described.