Amyand hernia: case report and review of the literature

The presence of an appendix in a hernias sac (Amyand’s hernia) is a rare entity and the incidence of having an appendix in the hernias sac is less than 1%. Usually, the appendix has been shown to be a part of a sliding hernia and it may be adherent to the sac, most commonly to the mesoappendix rather than the appendix itself and it makes up all or some part of the postero-medial wall of a hernias sac. The clinical presentation varies, depending on the extent of inflammation in the hernia sac and the presence or absence of peritoneal contamination. The presence of vermiform appendix, whether normal or inflamed in the inguinal hernia, is referred to as Amyand’s hernia. This is rare occurring in about 1% of inguinal hernias in adults.1 This is a report of Amyand’s hernia, which presented as an immediate resistance in the right groin with mild redness in an 80 year old male patient. Appendicectomy followed by hernia repair. Emphasis is given to the rarity of the disease and to the review of the literature.