Introduction

De Garengeot hernia is a rare femoral hernia; it is defined as the presence of the appendix within the femoral hernia sac. It accounts for 0.5–5% of all femoral hernias, it is more common in women (6:1) and it mainly affects the elderly population. The incidence of appendicitis in this type of hernia is as low as 0.08–0.13% of all De Garengeot hernias [1–2].

It was first described by a French surgeon, Rene Jacques Croissant De Garengeot, in 1731 [3].

The clinical presentation is similar to an acutely incarcerated or strangulated femoral hernia. Patients with clinical suspicion of femoral hernia should undergo computed tomography (CT) to confirm the diagnosis [4–5].

Case Presentation

A 61-year-old woman presented at the emergency department with a swelling (diameter 10 × 8 cm) in the right groin region for 5 days associated with pain in lower right abdomen and accompanied by fever (38 °C). She was a non-smoker woman with no comorbidities; she never underwent surgical operations in the past. On examination, there was a mass on the medial side of the right groin; the skin over the mass was ulcerated and with signs of inflammation (Fig. 1). By palpating, the mass was tender. The rest of the abdominal examination was unremarkable; she had no nausea and vomiting and there was no sign of bowel obstruction or peritonitis.

Fig. 1
figure 1

De Garengeot’s hernia

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Laboratory data showed the white blood cell (WBC) count of 14.79 × 103/μL, with 82.3 % neutrophils and C-reactive protein of 48.35 mg/L. The clinical suspicion of femoral abscess of unknown origin was raised up.

The CT scan of the abdomen (Fig. 2) revealed the herniation of the appendix in the femoral hernia sac. The patient received intravenous fluids and antibiotics (500 mg of metronidazole and 1 g of cefazolin); the surgical operation was proposed.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Axial, coronal, and sagittal computed tomography (CT) showing De Garengeot hernia. Description: presence of a complex fluid collection with small foci of air in the right inguinal region, measuring 9 × 7 × 10 cm in the 3 orthogonal dimensions and a blind ending tubular structure extending from the caecal base into the groin mass through a narrowed neck defect, medial to the common femoral vessels

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The surgical approach adopted was a combined access to the abdominal cavity and to the femoral canal through two different incisions, respectively a lower midline laparotomy and a standard oblique infra-inguinal incision under general anaesthesia. The small bowel and the colon were macroscopically undamaged. The appendix had herniated through the femoral ring into a hernia sac. Due to the small size of the defect, the sac and its contents were unable to be reduced into the abdomen. The hernia sac contained the appendix and purulent fluid. After an accurate drainage, the appendix was isolated and removed through the abdominal cavity and the hernia was repaired with herniorrhaphy without the use of a mesh, in view of the intense inflammation and presence of contaminated field. The wounds were closed in layers with sutures for deep subcutaneous tissues and skin. The antibiotic therapy was administered intravenously for the next 4 days.

Postoperative course was without complications, and she was discharged on the fifth postoperative day. No peri-/postoperative complications occurred. The histopathological findings were serosal and subserosal inflammation and fibroblastic proliferation in the appendix along with femoral hernia sac contents, concluding for acute phlegmonous appendicitis.

Discussion

The femoral hernia represents an uncommon cause of groin mass, which accounts for 3–5% of all abdominal hernias. A hernia sac can contain any of the intra-abdominal contents. Femoral hernia containing appendix accounts for only 0.5–5% of all femoral hernias [6,7,8].

The differential diagnosis for uncomplicated cases includes, in addition to inguinal hernia, adnexal diseases, a varix node, ectasia of the Vena saphena magna, lipomas or other soft tissue tumours, lymphomas and hypostatic abscesses in retroperitoneal processes. In the presented case, the patient had already been diagnosed with De Garengeot hernia after having CT scan.

The CT scan is the modality of choice in the diagnosis of the De Garengeot hernia with a 100% sensitivity and 98.9% specificity [4–5]. CT scan of the abdomen can provide secure preoperative diagnosis and it remains the best way to guide the surgical approach.

The double incision approach was justified by (1) the intent to limit the infection out of the abdominal cavity; (2) the intent to limit the widening of the hernia ring that it was required to correctly expose the base of the cecum; (3) the intent to completely remove the appendix, cutting it near the base of the cecum, in order to avoid further stump appendicitis. We suggest the double incision approach in the rare cases of De Garengeot hernia in the setting of contaminated/dirty field.

Due to the rarity of this condition, there is no specific guideline as for the surgical procedure. We propose (1) to consider rare femoral hernia when a tender mass is present in the femoral region; (2) if suspicion of rare hernia arises, consider to perform CT scan of the abdomen in order to make a precise preoperative diagnosis; (3) if it is confirmed the diagnosis of rare complicated femoral hernia, please consider a surgical approach that prevent contamination of the abdominal cavity; (4) complicated femoral hernia remains a surgical emergency.