Abstract
Spontaneous ventral hernia through the rectus abdominis sheath is perhaps the rarest hernia, with eight previously reported cases since 1937. The condition has not been reflected in the popular treatises on hernia. An 83-year-old male patient underwent surgery for intestinal obstruction. A spontaneous Richter’s hernia of the small intestine through the posterior rectus abdominis sheath was successfully treated with bowel resection and tissue repair. Hernias of this variety are not well known and thus are rarely suspected. Their successful management is based on accurate emergency diagnosis and surgery, which we recommend as the best chance for a successful outcome.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Lopez JA (1937) Hernia lipomatosa de la vaina del recto anterior del abdomen. Revista de Cirugia (Mexico) 411–414 (in Spanish)
Benchimol S, Bilesio EA (1956) Trans-rectus hernia. Prensa Med Argent 43:1369–1374 (in Spanish)
Bentzon N, Adamsen S (1995) Hernia of the posterior rectus sheath: a new entity? Eur J Surg 161:215–216
Adeonigbagbe O, Ali K, Bradnock H (2000) Herniation of the liver through the rectus muscle presenting as persistent abdominal pain. Am J Gastroenterol 95:1841–1842
Gangi S, Sparacino T, Furci M, Basile F (2002) Hernia of the posterior lamina of the rectus abdominis muscle sheath: report of a case. Ann Ital Chir 73:335–337
Felfel M, El Khourt M, Marboeuf Y, Strohl D, Menu Y (2005) Incarcerated hernia through the posterior rectus sheath. AJR 185:1185–1186
Ahmed AR, Sharma A, Wellwood J (2005) An unusual abdominal wall hernia. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 87:W1–W2
Whitson BA, Ose KJ (2007) Spontaneous posterior rectus sheath hernia: a new clinical entity? Hernia 11:445–447
Ganz E, Tazzioli G, Mosca D, Amorotti C, Speranza M (1997) Ventrolateral hernias of the abdominal wall. The anatomicopathologic, clinical and therapeutic considerations. Minerva Chir 52:1441–1445 (in Italian)
Loukas M, Myers C, Shah R, Tubbs RS, Wartmann C, Apaydin N, Betancor J, Jordan R (2008) Arcuate line of the rectus sheath: clinical approach. Anat Sci Int 83:140–144
Askar OM (1977) Surgical anatomy of the aponeurotic expansions of the anterior abdominal wall. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 59:313–321
Szczesny W, Cerkaska K, Tretyn A, Dabrowiecki S (2006) Etiology of inguinal hernia: ultrastructure of rectus sheath revisited. Hernia 10:266–271
Acknowledgments
This material is the result of work supported with resources and use of facilities at the John D. Dingell VAMC, Detroit, MI.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Losanoff, J.E., Basson, M.D. & Gruber, S.A. Spontaneous hernia through the posterior rectus abdominis sheath: case report and review of the published literature 1937–2008. Hernia 13, 555–558 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-009-0481-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-009-0481-6