Neonatal Appendicitis and Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Challenges in strategies for Amyand hernia in children: literature review with clinical illustrations

Introduction

Amyand hernia (AH) is a rare disease, so there are no standard strategies and there are many different aspects at each stage of its management. Based on our own experience, we encountered these differences even in a small number of cases and therefore sought to review the literature to highlight the diversity of approaches to this pathology. This review of the literature was not intended to describe the statistical findings found in the clinical case series, but rather to highlight the clinical and surgical difficulties of AH in children. Nevertheless, we conducted an introductory statistical study based on data from PubMed and Google Scholar to understand the global prevalence of AH.

Materials and methods

The search for the key terms Amyand hernia, Amyand’s hernia, and “children” between 2003 and 2023 resulted in 52 PubMed and 548 Google Scholar articles.

Results

After the exclusion of irrelevant studies, 101 articles were found. A total of 83 case reports describing 182 pediatric patients were used to understand the demographic distribution of this pathology. Given the impossibility of further comprehensive statistical analysis (due to heterogeneous data), a narrative design was used to describe the remaining aspects of AH management. Finally, three clinical cases demonstrated the mentioned aspects.

Discussion

As a result of the search, conclusions were drawn about the main difficulties in the management of AH in children, which were discussed.

Appendicitis and its associated mortality and morbidity in infants up to 3 months of age: A systematic review

Background and Aims

Although appendicitis is rare in young infants, the reported mortality is high. Primary aim of this systematic review was to provide updated insights in the mortality and morbidity (postoperative complications, Clavien-Dindo grades I-IV) of appendicitis in infants ≤3 months of age. Secondary aims comprised the evaluation of patient characteristics, diagnostic work-up, treatment strategies, comorbidity, and factors associated with poor outcome.

Methods

This systematic review was reported according to the PRISMA statement with a search performed in Pubmed, Embase and Web of Science (up to September 5th 2022). Original articles (published in English ≥1980) reporting on infants ≤3 months of age with appendicitis were included. Both patients with abdominal appendicitis and herniated appendicitis (such as Amyand's hernia) were considered. Data were provided descriptively.

Results

In total, 131 articles were included encompassing 242 cases after identification of 4294 records. Overall, 184 (76%) of the 242 patients had abdominal and 58 (24%) had herniated appendicitis. Two-hundred (83%) of the patients were newborns (≤28 days) and 42 (17%) were infants between 29 days and ≤3 months of age. Either immediate, or after initial conservative treatment, 236 (98%) patients underwent surgical treatment. Some 168 (69%) patients had perforated appendicitis. Mortality was reported in 20 (8%) patients and morbidity in an additional 18 (8%). All fatal cases had abdominal appendicitis and fatal outcome was relatively more often reported in newborns, term patients, patients with relevant comorbidity, nonperforated appendicitis and those presented from home.

Conclusion

Mortality was reported in 20 (8%) infants ≤3 months of age and additional morbidity in 18 (8%). All patients with fatal outcome had abdominal appendicitis. Several patient characteristics were relatively more often reported in infants with poor outcome and adequate monitoring, early recognition and prompt treatment may favour the outcome.

Bilateral congenital inguinal hernia with right-sided Amyand's hernia in a premature twin: Case report and a summary of clinical presentations, management and outcomes in neonates and infants with Amyand's hernia

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Congenital hernias occur 70% on the right side, 25% on the left side, and approximately 5% bilaterally. The finding of a congenital Amyand's hernia is of interest, especially in patients who do not present risk factors associated with connective tissue disorders, ascitic conditions, fetal developmental disorders or any condition that increases abdominal pressure.

CASE PRESENTATION

Male patient, 6 months old, was brought to the pediatric surgery department due to a visible mass in the bilateral inguinal region, which protruded with crying. The parents report that he was a 36-week preterm, low birth weight, monochorionic monoamniotic twin with bilateral congenital inguinal hernia. An open herniorrhaphy was performed, showing a left communicating hydrocele with an indirect left inguinal hernia and right communicating hydrocele with indirect inguinal hernia containing cecal appendix with no signs of inflammation.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

The most common clinical presentation is the presence of a reducible or irreducible mass, erythema and/or inguino-scrotal edema, irritability manifested by crying and recurrent pain in older infants. This condition may be associated with cryptorchidism, intrauterine structural developmental disorder, and the presence of fistulas. Appendectomy and traditional hernia reduction are the most common surgical approach. The evolution of this condition is favorable with extremely low complication rates.

CONCLUSION

Amyand's hernia in the neonate is a rare presenting condition, which frequently involves nearby structures with risk of inflammation, incarceration and perforation, so repair should be performed early.

Appendectomy or not in middle-aged male with non-inflamed appendix in Amyand's hernia? Case report and literature review

•

Amyand’s hernia management remains controversial.

•

Use of mesh or not in Amyand’s hernia.

•

Role of CT scan in diagnosis of Amyand’s hernia.

•

Literature review of Amyand’s hernia and classification systems.

Introduction

An Amyand’s hernia is a rare disease where a vermiform appendix is found within an inguinal hernia sac. It is reported in the literature as having an incidence between 0.4%–1.0% of reported hernia cases. Typically, an incidental finding, Amyand’s hernia is consequently found more frequently intra-operatively rather than preoperatively.

Presentation of case

This case is a recount of a 56-year-old male, who presented in an outpatient setting for the evaluation of right inguinal pain and bulge. The patient was diagnosed with a vermiform appendix within the indirect hernia. The patient underwent elective repair of his inguinal hernia via Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) approach of the hernia with avoidance of appendectomy.

Discussion

An Amyand’s hernia presents a challenging diagnosis and the treatment algorithm is contingent on the condition of the appendix in individual cases. This case presents a Type 1 Amyand’s hernia that was repaired through laparoscopic approach using prosthetic mesh. The aim of this case study highlights the approach to surgical decision making in the diagnosis and treatment of Amyand’s hernia proposed in the current literature.

Conclusion

This case presents a rare condition known as Amyand’s hernia followed by a discussion on the epidemiology, diagnostic workup, and treatment options. Treatment is dependent on the state of the appendix found in the hernia sac and the clinical scenario. Comprehensive literature review shows that the true prevalence of this disease is lower than classically described and still has no clear standardized approaches.

Neonatal and Infant Appendicitis

Neonatal appendicitis is a rare disease with a high mortality rate. Appendicitis is difficult to diagnose in neonatal and infant populations because it mimics other more common conditions in these age groups. Furthermore, signs and symptoms of appendicitis are often nonspecific in nonverbal patients and a high index of suspicion is necessary to initiate the appropriate diagnostic work-up. The keys to successful management of appendicitis in infants include keeping the diagnosis on the differential in the setting of unexplained intra-abdominal sepsis, following a diagnostic algorithm in the work-up of infant abdominal pathology, and performing appendectomy once the diagnosis is confirmed.

Amyand's Hernia in a Neonate Presenting with Inguinoscrotal Erythema: A Difficult Diagnosis

The presence of the vermiform appendix, whether inflamed or not, inside a hernial sac is known as Amyand's hernia. Due to nonspecific signs, preoperative diagnosis is not common and requires a high index of suspicion along with awareness of this rare entity. It is more commonly mistaken for a strangulated or incarcerated inguinal hernia. Most cases of reported Amyand's hernia with appendicitis were in pre-term babies, infants, and post-menopausal women. We present a similar case in a 19-day-old, full-term baby presenting with inguinoscrotal edema, erythema, and without a palpable inguinoscrotal mass.