Inguinal bladder hernia: A case report and literature review

Cases of inguinal bladder hernia are rare, with bladder involvement seen in 1-4% of inguinal hernias. The majority of cases are diagnosed intraoperatively, with only 7% of bladder hernias identified prior to surgery. Diagnosis may be challenging as patients are often asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms. Surgical repair is currently the standard treatment, and careful surgical planning is necessary to avoid complications including bladder injury.

A 58-year-old man presented to our Emergency Department with 2-day history of progressively worsening left lower quadrant pain, groin bulge, and dysuria. Physical exam revealed an irreducible left inguinal hernia associated with urinary urgency on attempted reduction. Plain CT was ordered and demonstrated inguinal hernia with bladder protrusion into the left scrotum. The patient underwent open surgical reduction and hernia repair and made a quick postoperative recovery without complications.

Inguinal bladder hernia most often presents in older, obese males and clinicians should have a high index of suspicion when assessing patients with inguinal hernia. Preoperative diagnosis based on history, physical, and radiologic imaging allow for careful surgical planning and prevention of severe complications including bladder injury and leakage.

We present a case report of inguinal bladder hernia in a middle-aged man that presented as left lower quadrant pain, groin pain, and dysuria. Diagnosis was confirmed preoperatively with radiographic imaging. The hernia was surgically reduced and the defect repaired without complications.