Hérnia intercostal abdominal / Abdominal intercostal hernia

ABSTRACT

Two cases of abdominal intercostal hernia are presented. One of them contained the colonic hepatic flexure and was caused by a thoraco-abdominal trauma ten months before the patient was referred to us. The second patient noticed the hernia few days after the trauma and the hernial sac content was a loop of small bowel. The clinical presentation of abdominal intercostal hernia is of an uncomplicated hernia, easily diagnosed on clinical examination. Further respiratory and digestive investigations are however essential to determine the content of the hernia sac. Treatment consisted of surgical repair. In one case we prefered the transperitoneal approach with the use of a Marlex mesh to repair the diaphragmatic defect. After one year of the operation the patient had no signs of recurrence. On the other patient we used the same approach and the defect was closed after the approximation of the 10§ and the 11§ ribs with pericostal suture. Nineth days after the operation the patient had no evidence of recurrence