A 62-year-old obese female presented with spontaneous rupture of incisional hernia for 4 hours duration. She had a history of curative total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy for stage 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma 3 years ago. She was also treated with adjuvant chemoradiation. Subsequently, she developed a surgical site infection and with breakdown of skin and subcutaneous tissues and was treated with repeated wound debridement and secondary suturing. She did not have diabetes mellitus or other long-standing medical comorbidities. She had noticed a bulge in the lower abdomen which was progressively enlarging in size over a period of 7 months and did not seek treatment.\nOn admission, she did not have fever or features of intestinal obstruction. She was haemodynamically stable. Her abdomen was pendulous with a large incisional hernia over the Pfannenstiel incision. A loop of grossly congested and oedematous small bowel was seen eviscerating through a small defect in the skin suggestive of early strangulation ().\nHer blood investigations including full blood count, serum electrolytes, renal functions, and clotting profile were normal. She was resuscitated and planned for emergency surgery.\nAs the first step during surgery, the strangulation was released by enlarging the skin defect which was 3 cm in diameter (). Fortunately, the bowel was viable without any evidence of gangrene. Thereafter, an elliptical incision was made over the incisional hernia incorporating the defect. A large (10 cm in diameter) abdominal wall defect was identified with extensive adhesions. Careful adhesiolysis was performed and the bowel was reduced into the peritoneal cavity. The defect was closed and an on lay mesh repair was performed. She had an uneventful recovery and was discharged on the 5th postoperative day. At one month following surgery, she had complete wound healing and was able to perform her normal day-to-day activities.
A 14 years old male was admitted with the chief complaint of acute lower abdominal pain which started suddenly after he passed stools. The abdomen was tender on deep palpation in the left iliac fossa and bowel sounds were sluggish. However, on per rectal examination gut loops were felt in the anal canal and finger was stained with blood thereby making intussusception the most probable diagnosis. Basic hematological and radiological investigations were normal. Patient was taken to the operation theatre for laparotomy. A lump was felt in the left iliac fossa once the patient was anaesthetized for surgery. Peroperative findings revealed a distended and a tubular sigmoid colon (intussusception like appearance) and twisting of ileal loops around the sigmoid colon simulating ileo-sigmoid knotting. On further mobilization and gentle traction on the ileal loops gangrenous segment of ileum became evident till it finally emerged out from a longitudinal perforation (approximately15mm) in the anterior wall of rectum just above the peritoneal reflection () thereby stunning the entire surgical team. No contamination of peritoneal cavity was noticed. Gangrenous segment of ileum was resected and primary anastomosis was done. Rectal tear was closed primarily in single layer after taking the biopsy from the whole edge which revealed non specific inflammation. On repeated questioning in postoperative period patient denied any history suggestive of constipation, rectal prolapse, trauma, weight lifting, rectal instrumentation or homosexual activity; however intermittent straining at stools was present. Postoperative period remained uneventful. Barium enema and colonoscopic examination in post operative follow up period were normal.