An unusual case of appendicitis.
BACKGROUND
Acute appendicitis in elderly patients often presents late and atypically. Presentation as an incarcerated femoral hernia is rare.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the management of an elderly patient presenting with acute appendicitis in an incarcerated femoral hernia.


METHODS
The femoral canal was explored and the hernia repaired. Formal appendicectomy was performed via a midline laparotomy incision.


RESULTS
Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Unusual clinical presentations of acute appendicitis represent an interesting diagnostic challenge.
Fitzgerald
E
E
Professorial Surgical Unit, Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin.
Neary
P
P
Conlon
K C
KC
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006550:Hernia, Femoral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans