Intramural hematoma of the small bowel: a possible lethal complication of herniography

A severe and possible lethal complication of herniography is reported. A 3-year-old child who was born with an undescended testicle on the right side and a normal descended testicle on the left underwent a herniography study. Twelve hours following the procedure, he developed lower abdominal pain which progressed over the next 72 hours. A diagnosis of mesenteric hematoma was entertained and he underwent abdominal surgery. At operation a large intramural hematoma was found in a segment of nonviable bowel. This segment was resected with an end-to-end anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful.