Analysis of our experience in the diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia in a third level hospital

Abstract

Hernia pathology accounts for a large percentage of urgent surgical interventions. Obturator hernia is rare, usually presenting as a picture of acute intestinal occlusion. The aim of the study is to analyze the experience in a third level hospital in the diagnosis and treatment of obturator hernia, as well as to detect those signs that allow an early diagnosis. This is a prospective observational study, which included patients operated on urgently for obturator hernia between 2000 and 2016. For the registration of postoperative morbidity, the Clavien-Dindo classification was used. We identified twelve patients with intestinal obstruction secondary to obturator hernia. All of them were operated on urgently. Urgent midline laparotomy was carried out on 59% of them, infraumbilical laparotomy on 33%, and a posterior inguinal approach was realized on only one patient (8%). In eight patients (67%) it was necessary to perform intestinal resection. Repair was performed by polypropylene mesh in six patients (50%), by plugging in two (17%) and closing with loose stitches in four patients (33%). Four of them presented postoperative complications, recording a single exitus secondary to perforation due to intestinal suffering. Obturator hernia is a rare entity that develops mostly as an occlusive condition in elderly women. The imaging technique of choice for diagnosis is computed tomography. Establishing an early diagnosis and urgent surgical treatment is a priority to reduce associated morbidity and mortality.