Spigelian hernia, a case report

INTRODUCTION & IMPORTANCE: The first clinical presentation of a hernia developing along the Spigelian line had been reported by Klinkosch. The Belgian anatomist Adriaan van der Spieghel (Adrianus Spigelius) was the first to describe the semilunar line now known as the linea Spigeli in 1645. Spigelian hernias are rare and account for 1 % to 2 % of all abdominal wall hernias. Most of these hernia occurs in the lower abdomen where posterior sheath is deficient. The hernia ring is well defined defect in the transverse aponeurosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60 year old female, presented with a palpable lump at the right lower quadrant of the abdomen since 7 month before her presentation. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: For the first time the swelling is small and painless then gradually increase in size and associated with dull aching pain. The swelling was reducible with a defect of size 4 × 4 cm palpable in right iliac fossa. There was a positive cough impulse. The swelling was non tender. Other hernial orifices were normal. No inguinal lymphadenopathy noted. Abdominal ultrasonography done revealed a defect in abdominal wall in right iliac fossa with reducible bowel content. Depending on basis of clinical and investigations, a diagnosis of Spigelian hernia was made. After preparation for surgery, exploration done. The defect measuring 4 cm in length was identified and anatomical repair was done with nylon- 0, by suturing medial border of internal oblique and transverse abdominus muscle to the lateral border of rectum abdominal wall followed by hernioplasty by mesh. CONCLUSION: Spigelian hernias are rare multifactorial disorder leading to defect in the transversus abdominis muscle in anterior abdominal wall. Spigelian hernias carry a significant risk of incarceration and strangulation of sac content. The management of spigelian hernias is almost always surgical which can be done in a traditional open fashion or laparoscopically.