Chronic Abdominal Pain following the TAPP Hernioplasty, Caused by
Appendix Attached to the Polypropylene Mesh
Rakic Mislav
*
, Klicek Robert, Amic Fedor, Matej Andabak and Patrlj Leonardo
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Corresponding author: Rakic Mislav, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, University Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia, Tel: 0038598 891-925, E-mail:
mislav78@gmail.com
Received date: September 5, 2018; Accepted date: September 17, 2018; Published date: September 25, 2018
Copyright: © 2018 Mislav R, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
We report a case of 42 y old male patient with chronic pain in the lower right abdominal quadrant that appeared
almost every time after or during exercise, for a last two years. The patient underwent transabdominal preperitoneal
patch hernioplasty (TAPP), due to the right inguinal hernia two and a half years ago. There were no comorbidities or
other previous operations in his medical records. Since the abdominal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonant (MR)
with laboratory methods did not show any special findings, the laparoscopy was performed and the appendix was
found with apex attached to the polypropylene mesh, preperitoneal positioned at the place of the previous
hernioplasty. The appendix was divided carefully and the laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. There were
no complications during the operation or postoperative period. The pathohistological exam showed chronic
inflammatory mononuclear infiltration at the sampled appendix. During the follow-up period of two years, the patient
experienced no abdominal pain nor any other symptoms and/or complications. In the current literature, we did not
find this kind of complication following the TAPP procedure. This case is a unique presentation of chronic abdominal
pain following the TAPP procedure caused with the position of the attached appendix.
Keywords: Transabdominal preperitoneal patch hernioplasty
(TAPP); Chronic abdominal pain; Laparoscopic appendectomy
Introduction
Inguinal hernia repair is among the most common surgical
procedures performed worldwide [1], with the estimated annual
incidence of inguinal hernia repair being 130-160 operations per
100,000 inhabitants [2]. Te laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair
presents a promising therapeutic pathway nowadays especially in
bilateral and recurrent hernias [3]. Te same as any other surgical
procedure it could be accompanied by several complications. Tey are
usually grouped as the following: a) complications associated with
laparoscopy; b) the ones related to the patient; c) those related to
hernioplasty itself [4]. In the 17.1% of the hernioplasty operations are
usually accompanied with minor complications such as transient groin
pain, seroma, transient leg pain or testicular and spermatic cord
problems and hematoma [5]. Te impaired bowel passage was reported
early afer the operation that was managed conservatively, but also the
adhesive ileus that required reoperation and the adhesiolysis six
months following the operation [6,7]. According to literature, there are
only a few cases in which the laparoscopic hernia repair was brought in
the connection with the development of acute appendicitis [7]. On the
other hand, some other reports present another interesting issue in the
setting of an inguinal hernia and appendicitis, which is De Garrengeot
hernia where the appendix is included in hernia sac, the synchronous
laparoscopic appendectomy and TAPP hernioplasty can be performed
safely in these cases [8,9].
However, numerous studies with long-term follow-up have shown
that the rate of chronic postoperative pain is high and that it is one of
the major complications afecting patients that undergo laparoscopic
hernia repairs [10,11].
However, there were no any reports and/or studies presenting the
TAPP hernioplasty as a possible trigger for chronic abdominal pain
caused by attachment of the appendix to the preperitoneal positioned
prosthetic material.
Terefore we present an unusual case of a young male patient
presented with chronical pain in the right lower abdominal quadrant,
three years following the TAPP hernioplasty, where the appendix was
found attached to the preperitoneal positioned polypropylene mesh.
Case Report
We report a case of 42 y old male patient with chronic pain in the
lower right abdominal quadrant that lasted for more than two years,
and it was related to exercise. Tis pain started to show afer TAPP
hernioplasty which patient underwent due to the right inguinal hernia
3 years ago. Tere were no other comorbidities in his medical records.
Since the imaging (abdominal US and MR) and laboratory methods
did not show any special fndings, the laparoscopy was performed and
the apex of the appendix was found attached to the polypropylene
mesh which was positioned preperitoneal. So the appendix was long-
drawn in the right down part of the abdominal cavity (Figure 1).
Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. Tere were no
complications during the early or late postoperative period. Te
pathohistological exam has shown chronic infammatory mononuclear
infltration at the sampled appendix. During the two years of follow up,
no abdominal pain or any other complications were not reported by
the patient.
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ISSN: 2472-4971
Journal of Medical & Surgical
Pathology
Mislav et al., J Med Surg Pathol 2018, 3:4
DOI: 10.4172/2472-4971.1000165
Case Report Open Access
J Med Surg Pathol, an open access journal
ISSN:2472-4971
Volume 3 • Issue 4 • 1000165