Internal hernia: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Apropos of 14 cases

• Published in: Annales de chirurgie Vol. 53; no. 9; p. 870
• Main Authors: Pessaux, P, Tuech, J J, Derouet, N, Du Plessis, R, Ronceray, J, Arnaud, J P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 1999
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cecal Diseases - diagnosis; Cecal Diseases - etiology; Cecal Diseases - surgery; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hernia - complications; Hernia - diagnosis; Herniorrhaphy; Humans; Ileal Diseases - diagnosis; Ileal Diseases - etiology; Ileal Diseases - surgery; Intestinal Diseases - complications; Intestinal Diseases - diagnosis; Intestinal Diseases - surgery; Intestinal Obstruction - diagnosis; Intestinal Obstruction - etiology; Intestinal Obstruction - surgery; Laparoscopy; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0003-3944

Internal hernia is an uncommon cause of acute intestinal obstruction. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the diagnosis, the management, and the follow-up of the internal hernias operated over a 10-year period in our department of visceral surgery. 14 spontaneous internal hernias were observed. The patients were evaluated with respect to symptoms, radiological findings, time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and surgery, type of operation performed, postoperative morbidity and mortality, postoperative stay, and follow-up. There were 8 men and 6 women. The preoperative diagnosis was evoked in only one case. The mean time elapsed between the onset of the symptoms and surgery was 31.1 hours (range 6 to 72 hours). Two intestinal resection were performed. Mean postoperative hospital stay was 11.3 days (range 6 to 22 days). The morbidity was 21.4% with no mortality. Mean follow-up was 7 months (range 3 to 15 months); one patient developed an incisional hernia. Since preoperative diagnosis of an internal hernia is difficult because of the lack of specific signs, morbidity and mortality can be decreased with early surgical intervention. Operative risks include vascular accidents, especially to hernia neck vessels.