Gallbladder protrusion through the groin region : a very unusual femoral hernia

Abstract

Groin hernias are among the oldest recorded afflictions of mankind. Most of them protrude through the inguinal canal, and only a few through the femoral canal. Usually, they are present as a painful lump in the groin region, and their complications arise if they become incarcerated or strangulated. Incarcerated hernias may contain a variety of contents, such as the omentum, small bowel, colon, bladder, appendix, stomach, or ovary as previously described. Usually, the history and a physical examination are sufficient to make the diagnosis. However, the wide use of CT has become an effective instrument to identify the contents of hernias and has helped surgeons program the best management. This article reports, for the first time, the case of an 81-year-old female with an incarcerated femoral hernia that contains the gallbladder.