The de Garengeot hernia chicken-and-egg conundrum: Acute appendicitis in an incarcerated femoral hernia, but which came first? A case report

INTRODUCTION: De Garengeot hernia is exceedingly rare and denotes a femoral hernia containing the appendix, which may or may not be inflamed. Given its low incidence, there is no clear consensus on the ideal surgical management of a de Garengeot hernia. PRESENTATION OF CASE: This is a case report of an 81-year-old man who was admitted and operated on for a strangulated femoral hernia containing an inflamed appendix. Appendicectomy and primary hernia repair were performed in tandem using a single incision. DISCUSSION: The case presented here provides a unique account of a subacute presentation of a de Garengeot hernia. It draws into question the true pathogenesis of appendicitis in this clinical setting, by lending credence to the theory that appendicitis can arise sporadically within a long-standing de Garengeot hernia, given the subacute-on-chronic nature of the patient's presentation. Furthermore, the case presented herein represents the minority of cases in which the diagnosis is clinched preoperatively based on computer tomography imaging as, in the vast majority of cases, definitive diagnosis is not made until the time of operation. CONCLUSION: Due to the lack of prospective studies and randomised controlled trials, a standardised, evidence-based approach for the optimal surgical management of de Garengeot hernias remains elusive. Early recognition and diagnosis as well as an individualised approach that considers the patient's anatomy and clinical status are crucial to the management of De Garengeot hernias.