TY - JOUR
AR - SCR-2019-2-113
TI - Amyand's hernia: a mini review and two case reports 
AU - Andrea , Giorga
AU - Omer Saad , Al-taan
AU - Sylvia , Krivan
JO - Surgical Case Reports
PY - 2019
DA - Wed 03, Apr 2019
SN - 2613-5965
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.SCR.2019.02.013
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/amyands-hernia-a-mini-review-and-two-case-reports_SR-SCR-2019-2-113 
KW - Amyand hernia, vermiform appendix, appendicectomy, hernia repair open vs laparoscop
AB - Claudius Amyand was the first to perform a successful appendicectomy in 1735 as well as describe an
‘Amyand’s Hernia’. It is an uncommon condition, in which an inguinal hernia, a protrusion of abdominal
contents through the inguinal canal, contains an incarcerated vermiform appendix, irrespective of whether
it is inflamed or not. The reported incidence is less than 1.7% with histologically normal appendix and less
than 0.1% having an inflamed or perforated appendix. We report a case of acute appendicitis after its
incarceration in the inguinal hernia and another case of Amyand’s hernia containing a healthy, non-inflamed
appendix. Comorbidities, clinical presentation, investigations as well as surgical management are presented.
One patient has provided us with a written consent for image disclosure. Both patients presented with signs
and symptoms of incarcerated irreducible inguinal hernia. Contrast computer tomography (CT) was the only
modality to diagnose the hernia sac contents preoperatively. A laparoscopic repair was performed on the
first case (inflamed appendix) and an open repair was chosen for the second case (non-inflamed). Both
patients had an uncomplicated and uneventful postoperative recovery.
Amyand hernia is a rare entity with variable presentations; from a reducible inguinal hernia containing a
normal appendix, to acute abdomen due to perforation of acute appendicitis secondary to incarceration.
Only imaging can verify the contents of an incarcerated inguinal hernia and the approach varies upon those
findings. It is generally accepted that surgical treatment involves hernia repair with or without concomitant
appendicectomy