Paraduodenal hernia: a report of two cases

Paraduodenal hernias are uncommon congenital herniations into the mesentery of the colon that present as small bowel obstruction. The diagnosis is elusive but may be made by CT scan or upper gastrointestinal series. There are three types: left, right, and transverse. The repair involves reduction of the hernia and closure of the mesenteric defect in accordance with the anatomy of the hernia. We present two cases of paraduodenal hernia that are representative of this unusual class of internal herniation.