[Acute appendicitis in a femoral hernia].

BACKGROUND

Acute appendicitis in a femoral hernia is an uncommon condition that can be serious. Complications are more frequent if the diagnosis is delayed and surgery is not performed on time.

METHODS

We present a 71-year-old man with a painful swollen mass. The patient presented with fatigue and loss of appetite, while body temperature was normal. The abdomen was not painful, and peristaltic was normal. All laboratory findings were normal. After anamnesis and physical examination, the presumed diagnosis was incarcerated femoral hernia and the patient was sent to the operating room. Intraoperative findings revealed an incarcerated femoral hernia within a phlegmonous inflammated appendix. Appendectomy and McVay hernioplastics were done. The postoperative course was without complications.

CONCLUSIONS

It is very important to bear in mind that right femoral hernia with signs of incarceration and inflammation may contain an acutely inflamed appendix. Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis cause greater morbidity and mortality.