An Acute Strangulated Inguinal Hernia in an Elderly Female: A Case Report

Acute strangulated inguinal hernia is uncommon in females. We report a case of an inguinal hernia with small bowel strangulation in a 76-year-old woman with a history of chronic constipation and abdominal straining. The forward stooping posture, a weak abdominal wall along with continuous abdominal straining resulted in a complicated acute inguinal hernia. Our case etiology could be multifactorial with findings similar to direct inguinal hernia, sportsman’s hernia, acute hernia, and Para pubic hernia. Irrespective of its etiology, our case was an acute strangulated inguinal hernia superimposed over a weak posterior inguinal wall strangulated at the level of the superficial inguinal ring. An open hernia repair was done without bowel resection. Chronic abdominal straining is a risk factor for acute hernias in elderly females. Inguinal hernias in elderly women must be operated on as early as possible due to the risk of strangulation.