Laparoscopic assisted repair of strangulated obturator hernia—Way to go

INTRODUCTION: Obturator hernias are a rare subtype of intra-abdominal hernias that present with considerable challenges in both diagnosis and surgical repair. Delays in diagnosis and management significantly increases the Morbidity and Mortality. PRESENTATION OF CASE: An elderly 70-year-old female presented with Lower abdominal pain radiating to the medial side of the left leg over a year that has become persistent and continuous over the 3 day period. Patient was found to have a Richter's type of strangulated obturator hernia on diagnostic laparoscopy. A laparoscopic assisted resection of the strangulated small bowel and repair of the Hernia was performed. Postoperatively patient had an uneventful recovery. DISCUSSION: Surgical treatment is the standard of care for an obturator Hernia. Increasing number of laparoscopic repairs are being performed in the recent past. Minilaparotomy greatly facilitates the resection and anastomosis of a dead bowel without jeopardizing cosmesis and mesh placement at the time of repair. CONCLUSION: Heightened awareness of the condition combined with our proposition of a Hybrid repair achieves optimal results in an emergency setting. A Laparoscopic assisted repair of a strangulated hernia provides a durable repair and at the same time offers the patient benefits of minimally invasive surgery.