[Surgical treatment of the so-called Spiegel anterolateral hernia]

The surgical approaches to the so-called spigelian hernias are described on the basis of 16 cases and a review of the literature. The lateral route, used in 12 cases, leads to the hernial sac and to the orifice which is closed electively. Strangulation is frequent. The abdominal route, used in 4 cases, is suitable for occlusions revealing the hernias, resection of the colon, hernial phlegmons and hernias associated with an intra-abdominal lesion.