UC Irvine

PURPOSE: Amyands hernia is a rare hernia defined as an inguinal hernia that contains the appendix within the hernia sac. Current treatment of Amyands hernia remains controversial. Our study retrospectively reviewed 6 cases of Amyands hernia, aiming to provide a reference for the surgical treatment of Amyands hernia. METHODS: Six patients diagnosed with Amyands hernia from September 2010 to May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in our study. We summarized clinical data of six patients including the chief complaint, physical examinations, laboratory examinations, imaging examinations, surgical methods, and postoperative treatments and outcomes. RESULTS: The diagnosis of six cases with Amyands hernia was made during surgery. Two patients had normal appendixes whereas the remaining four patients had appendicitis. Two patients with normal appendix received tension-free mesh repair through the inguinal incision. Among those with inflamed or perforated appendixes, two received mesh repair and the other two did not. The discharge time after surgery of six patients was 9.8 ± 6.1 days. One patient suffered from a wound infection. No additional postoperative complications were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography and ultrasonography are helpful but limited in the definite diagnosis of Amyands hernia. The presence of a normal appendix does not require to be resected, but appendicectomy is necessary if the appendix is inflamed. The treatment of Amyands hernia should be tailored based on the patients condition and the type of Amyands hernia.