[Strangulated obturator hernia as a rare cause of intestinal obstruction (report of 2 cases)].

The Authors report on tpo cases of strangulated obturator hernia observed in their department during the period 1977-1987 and successfully operated on by mid-line laparotomy, both pith a diagnosis of occlusion of the small bowel. The Authors review the clinical signs and instrumental investigations which may be of use in reaching an early pre-operative diagnosis, which constitutes the only possibility of reducing the mortality associated with this condition. Particular attention is devoted to the somatic characteristics of the patients: elderly, thin, chronic bronchitic, hypertensive cardiopathic. In one of the two cases, there was a concomitant crural hernia. In both cases, which presented a picture of acute intestinal occlusion, the type of surgery opted for was a mid-line laparotomy. In one case, an ileal resection was performed. To close the orifice of the obturator canal, plain suture of the peritoneum was used in one case and a mersilene patch in the other.