Massive penoscrotal haematoma following inguinal hernia repair: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Inguinal hernia is one of the commonest surgical conditions that one comes across in a surgical career. Operative repair is the only successful treatment for hernias. As with other surgical procedures, this is also associated with possible complications. Scrotal haematoma is one of the well-known complications following hernia repair, but massive penoscrotal haematoma requiring surgical intervention is very rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old black man had undergone elective hernia repair. He underwent standard open hernia repair with a prolene mesh and developed massive scrotal haematoma which required drainage. Eventually he recovered well, although slowly. CONCLUSION: To achieve adequate bleeding control during and at the end of operation is the key preventive measure to avoid scrotal haematoma. Here, we report a case of massive penoscrotal haematoma following repair of a moderate sized inguinal hernia. We strongly emphasize the importance of adequate control of bleeding, even in small to moderate sized inguinal hernias in order to avoid such disastrous complications with long-term cosmetic disfigurement.