Preoperative diagnosis of obturator hernia by computed tomography in six patients

Obturator hernia is a rare condition, and the prognosis of patients with th is condition is poor. A retrospective study was performed on six patients w ith obturator hernia between 1993 and 1998, They had been diagnosed preoper atively by computed tomography (CT), The initial CT scan of the abdomen, in cluding the pelvic area, revealed an incarcerated bowel in the obturator fo ramen of all six patients. All patients underwent laparotomy on the day of admission. Resection of the small bowel was performed in three patients, an d release of the small bowel was performed in the remaining three patients. There were no perioperative deaths. In elderly women who have evidence by abdominal plain X-ray studies of small bowel obstruction, we recommend perf orming CT scan of the abdomen, including CT scan of the pelvic area, for de tection of obturator hernia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.