Work

Management of Strangulated Abdominal Wall Hernias in Hospitals in Ziguinchor

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the epidemiologic, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic features of strangulated abdominal wall hernias in adults managed in the general surgery departments of hospitals in Ziguinchor. Patients and methods: We conducted a four-year, two-center retrospective descriptive study including all patients aged 18 years or older who underwent surgery for a strangulated abdominal wall hernia. Results: Ninety-five patients were included: 79 men (83.2%) and 16 women (16.8%), with a mean age of 50.2 years. Sixty-five patients (68.4%) presented more than 24 hours after strangulation. Painful swelling was present in all patients and vomiting in 47.4%. Groin hernias accounted for 88.4% of cases. The sac most commonly contained small bowel alone (60 cases; 63.2%), followed by omentum alone (18 cases; 18.9%). Fourteen patients (14.7%) required bowel resection and anastomosis because of necrosis. Mean hospital stay was 3.55 days. Postoperative outcomes were favorable in 93.7% of patients. Morbidity was 6.3%, and there were no deaths. Conclusion: Strangulated hernia remains a potentially severe surgical emergency. Delayed presentation increases the risk of ischemia, necrosis, and bowel resection. Keywords: strangulated hernia; emergency; surgery; Ziguinchor.

Source: Journal of African clinical cases and reviews.

DOI: 10.70065/2623.jaccrsurg.001l010309