[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.