Laparoscopic repair of an incarcerated obturator hernia

Abstract

Obturator hernia is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. Occurring primarily in elderly women, it has a high incidence of incarceration and a high mortality rate. This report describes the successful laparoscopic reduction and repair of an incarcerated obturator hernia. Using open laparoscopy, an incarcerated obturator hernia was diagnosed intraoperatively. After laparoscopic reduction, a transabdominal preperitoneal repair was completed using polypropylene mesh. The patient recovered uneventfully with no recurrence at 6 months. Laparoscopic techniques have been successfully applied to diagnose, reduce, and repair an incarcerated obturator hernia.