Gangrenous appendicitis in Amyand's hernia: Surgical approach under local anesthesia. Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Amyand hernia is a rare disease seen in approximatively 1% of all hernias, complications of it, like acute appendicitis, or perforated appendicitis are even more rare, about 0.1%. Its diagnosis is very difficult in the preoperative period: it is usually an incidental finding.

Case presentation: We report an unusual case of perforated gangrenous appendicitis with peri-appendicular abscess occurring in an irreducible Amyand's hernia. An 80-year-old male, with chronic obstructive disease and pulmonary emphysema, atrial fibrillation, acute myocardial infarction, underwent urgent surgery, under local anesthesia, for right incarcerated inguinoscrotal hernia. He was found to have a perforated gangrenous appendicitis with peri-appendicular abscess within a right indirect inguinal hernia sac. Appendicectomy and Bassini's hernia repair were performed under local anesthesia without any complications.

Clinical discussion: The treatment of Amyand's hernia is not standardized. The current generally accepted algorithm for Amyand's hernia is essentially contingent on the appendix's condition within the hernia sac.

Conclusion: Appendectomy and primary herniorrhaphy, under local anesthesia, for type 3 of Amyand's hernia, is a safe procedure and easy to perform and, if confirmed by further study, could be part of every surgeon's knowledge.

Keywords: Acute appendicitis; Amyand’s hernia; Case report; Local anesthesia.