Internal hernia: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. Report of 14 cases.

Aim of the study: Internal hernia is an uncommon cause of acute intestinal obstruction. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the diag nosis, the management, and the follow-up of the internal hernias operated o ver a 10-year period in our department of visceral surgery. Methods: 14 spo ntaneous internal hernias were observed. The patients were evaluated with r espect to symptoms, radiological findings, time elapsed between the onset o f symptoms and surgery, type of operation performed, postoperative morbidit y and mortality, postoperative stay, and follow-up. Results: There were 8 m en and 6 women. The preoperative diagnosis was evoked in only one case. The mean time elapsed between the onset of the symptoms and surgery was 31.1 h ours (range 6 to 72 hours). Two intestinal resection were performed. Mean p ostoperative hospital stay was 11.3 days (range 6 to 22 days). The morbidit y was 21.4% with no mortality. Mean follow-up was 7 months (range 3 to 15 m onths); one patient developed an incisional hernia. Conclusion: Since preop erative diagnosis of an internal hernia is difficult because of the lack of specific signs, morbidity and mortality can be decreased with early surgic al intervention. Operative risks include vascular accidents, especially to hernia neck vessels.