[Littré hernia: an unusual cause of intestinal obstruction.

BACKGROUND

Littre's hernia is the presence of a Meckel diverticulum within an orifice in the abdominal wall. There are few cases published in the literature and its frequency is not well described.

CLINICAL CASE

We present the case of a 74-year-old patient who arrived at the emergency service with clinical signs of intestinal obstruction caused by an incarcerated right inguinal hernia. Emergency surgery was performed using a preperitoneal approach. Within the hernia, 5 cm of small bowel containing a Meckel diverticulum was found. Therefore, we decided to extirpate the diverticulum and repair the hernia placing a polypropylene mesh.

CONCLUSIONS

Meckel diverticulum is the persistence of the omphalomesenteric duct. It is usually asymptomatic, producing bleeding, infection or intestinal obstruction as the main symptoms.