CASE REPORT
INGUINAL HERNIA PRESENTING AS A VULVAR SWELLING: A RARE
CASE REPORT
Shaifali Patil, B. G. Boricha, Nidhi Kurkal, Kundan Patil
1.
2.
3.
4.
Associate Professor. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, MGM Hospital & Medical College, Kamothe.
Professor & HOD. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, MGM Hospital & Medical College, Kamothe.
Registrar. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, MGM Hospital & Medical College, Kamothe.
Ex Associate Professor. Department of Surgery, MS, FCPS. DNB
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. Nidhi Kurkal,
802, Fortune Heights,
L.J. Road, Opp. Vijay Sales,
Mahim, Mumbai – 400016.
E-mail: jusgoaway@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Inguinal Hernia is the protrusion of part of the contents of the abdomen through
the inguinal region of the abdominal wall. Indirect Inguinal Hernia is still the most common
groin hernia in females and is almost always congenital in etiology. The protrusion of
peritoneum is simply called a hernial sac. It includes the round ligament of the uterus and may
contain any pelvic organ along with bowel and rarely even appendix. Our case was that of a 35
year old multiparous female who was diagnosed with indirect inguinal hernia with herniation of
ovary. As gynecologists we often come across surgical conditions which we may have to deal
with. Albeit rare, inguinal hernias must be kept in mind especially in high risk women such as
multipara with some cause of chronic strain such as cough or constipation.
INTRODUCTION: A hernia is the protrusion of viscus through an abnormal opening in the walls
of its containing cavity. An indirect inguinal hernia is still the most common cause of hernias in
females following incisional hernias1. Indirect inguinal hernia in females is 4 % as common as in
males with an overall incidence of 1-2% in females2. It is almost always congenital and presents
usually in childhood3.
CASE REPORT: Our patient, 35 years, female, Para5 Living5, residing at Panvel, belonging to a
middle socio-economic strata came to our opd with complains of swelling and itching at the
vulva since 10 days. Patient had no other complains and no significant past history. She was
married since 17 yrs with history of tubal ligation done 2 yrs back. She had 5 Full term normal
deliveries with last child birth 2 yrs back and weighed 54.36 kgs with a BMI of 21.23kg/m 2. On
local examination, a swelling was seen on the right labia. Skin over the swelling was normal
with no signs of fistulas or sinuses or dilated veins. It was non tender, no redness or raised
temperature, not easily reducible, transillumination was negative and swelling decreased on
lying down with a positive cough impulse. On Palpation gurgling was felt (peristalsis) s/o bowel.
A differential diagnosis was made of indirect inguinal hernia or encysted hydrocele of canal of
Nuck. Surgery opinion was taken and diagnosis was confirmed as an indirect inguinal hernia.
Patient underwent a right sided Lichenstein hernioplasty under spinal anaesthesia. Intraoperatively round ligament and the right ovary was found to be part of the contents of the
hernia sac and were reposited. There were no signs of incarceration or strangulation of bowel
and no evidence of torsion of the ovary. The posterior wall was reinforced with a polypropelene
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CASE REPORT
mesh. Patient was managed post operatively on antibiotics and analgesics. Patient was
discharged on Day 5 post operatively with no complains.
DISCUSSION: Indirect Inguinal Hernia is the most common cause of hernia in females with the
overall risk of 1-2% of a female to develop a hernia in her lifetime. The hernial sac may contain
bowel, omentum, the appendix and any pelvic organ such as the ovary, fallopian tube and in a
few reported cases of congenital hernias even the uterus4. In such cases there may also be
associated Mullerian Duct anomaly such as a unicornuate uterus4. The hernial sac is lined by the
round ligament in females5.
Inguinal Hernias in women are always indirect and direct inguinal hernias almost never
occur in females. It is almost always congenital and presents usually in childhood before five
years of age3. In case of congenital hernias we need to rule out intersex syndromes especially in
cases of bilateral inguinal hernias which is usually associate with complete androgen
insensitivity syndrome (CAIS)6. The inguinal canal widens with age. Thus in females, an indirect
inguinal hernia usually occurs in two age groups; the pediatric and the geriatric.
There are a few predisposing factors in women:1. Pregnancy
2. Smoking because of the acquired collagen deficiency it causes
3. Multi parity
4. Chronic cough/constipation
5. Lifting heavy weights
6. Heavy strenuous exercise as in athletes and labourers
7. Obesity : Although obesity used to be considered as a predisposing factor for hernias
both in males as well as females with the theory that it causes abdominal muscle
weakness, a few studies have shown little or no difference in the incidence of
hernias with only obesity as the risk factor7
Nyhus described a spectrum of hernias differentiated by size, presence or absence of a
sac, and the degree of deformity of anatomy. Type III hernias are more common in men,
whereas Type I and II hernias (occult hernias) appear to be more common in women8. Our case
was unique as this was a type III hernia which occurred in a female of a reproductive age group
with no other complains besides a genital swelling.
In adult females the most common complain is that of a groin mass. The second most
common complain is that of chronic pelvic pain or groin pain or ovarian pain as described by
patients9,10. The patient may even complain of dyspareunia. Pain usually occurs in the incipient
phase of hernia due to the stretching of the tissues. The pain maybe a sharp, shooting pain
similar to neuralgias and may even be associated with back pains or sciatica10.
In case of small hernias associated with pain, the patient can be managed on analgesics
and anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy. In large hernias or with signs of obstruction or
strangulation, the management is surgical. Surgery maybe an open surgery such as Lichenstein’s
hernioplasty with a mesh or today more popularly it is done laparoscopically. However during
surgery, it is crucial to explore the other spaces of the abdomen such as the femoral and
obturator canals thoroughly because such women may have other associated occult hernias as
well11.
CONCLUSION: Indirect inguinal hernia in adult women of reproductive age
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group is a rarity in itself and it can be easily misdiagnosed. A large swelling can be mistaken for
a cyst or a hydrocele. A small swelling may go unnoticed. Most gynecologists and general
surgeons are unaware of occult hernias and many do not believe that they exist; and therefore,
they are controversial9. Albeit rare, inguinal hernia must be kept in mind when diagnosing a
patient with a groin swelling or chronic pelvic pain especially in high risk women.
REFERENCES:
1. Inguinal Hernia in Female Infants and Children RICHARD GOLDSTEIN, M.D., WILLIS J.
POrrS, M.D., Department of Surgery of the Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
2. John T Jenkins, Patrick J O’Dwyer (2008). "Inguinal hernias". BMJ 336 (7638): 269–272
3. Chen-Sheng Huang, Chih-Cheng Luo, European Journal of Pediatrics, July 2003, Volume
162, Issue 7-8, pp 493-495, The presentation of asymptomatic palpable movable mass
in female inguinal hernia
4. David C. Elliott, MD; Thomas E. Beam, MD; Thomas S. Denapoli, MD, Hernia Uterus
Inguinale Associated With Unicornuate Uterus, Arch Surg. 1989;124(7):872-873
5. Ando, H., Kaneko, K., Ito, F., Seo, T. and Ito, T. (1997), Anatomy of the round ligament in
female infants and children with an inguinal hernia. Br J Surg, 84: 404–405.
6. ASMA DEEB and IEUAN A. HUGHES,University Department of Paediatrics, Cambridge
University, Cambridge, UK,30 March 2005
7. Mike S. L. Liem, Yolanda van der Graaf, Reinder C. Zwart, Risk Factors for Inguinal
Hernia in Women: A Case-Control Study, Am J Epidemiol Vol. 146, No. 9, 1997
8. Nyhus LM. Individualization of hernia repair: a new era. Surgery. 1993;114:1-2.
9. DEBORAH A. METZGER, PhD, MD, HERNIAS IN WOMEN: UNCOMMON OR
UNRECOGNIZED?, January 01, 2004, Laparoscopy today
10. Kavic MS. Chronic pelvic pain, hernias and the general surgeon [editorial].JSLS.
1999;3:89-90.
11. Metzger DA, Daoud I. Occult hernias in women with chronic pelvic pain. Plenary
abstract presented at: International Congress of Gynecologic Endoscopy, American
Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists 26th Annual Meeting; September 24-28,
1997, Seattle, WA.
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CASE REPORT
Image of the swelling preoperatively
- Post-operative image
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