Scrotal pneumocele and inguinal hernia complicating pneumoperitoneum therapy

Abstract

Summaryo1.Three cases of scrotal pneumocele and one case of inguinal hernia during artificial pneumoperitoneum therapy have been described.2.In only one of these cases was the phenomenon associated with induction (Case 1). In another (Case 2) it was associated with a larger than normal air injection, and in another (Case 4) with a larger than normal volume for induction purposes. In Case 3 it was apparantly of incidental occurrence.3.In agreement with Rogers and Garrett the writer has found that scrotal pneumocele is transient and does not necessarily indicate abandonment of the treatment.4.While it is impossible in such a short series and by the very nature of the condition to state dogmatically that scrotal pneumocele and inguinal hernia occurring during pneumoperitoneum therapy is the enlargement of a previously existing embryological remnant of the processus vaginalis, one of the cases (Case 1) had a contralateral congenital hernia, and it is felt that all patients upon whom pneumoperitoneum induction is contemplated should be examined carefully for hernia as a preliminary measure. Three cases of scrotal pneumocele and one case of inguinal hernia during artificial pneumoperitoneum therapy have been described. In only one of these cases was the phenomenon associated with induction (Case 1). In another (Case 2) it was associated with a larger than normal air injection, and in another (Case 4) with a larger than normal volume for induction purposes. In Case 3 it was apparantly of incidental occurrence. In agreement with Rogers and Garrett the writer has found that scrotal pneumocele is transient and does not necessarily indicate abandonment of the treatment. While it is impossible in such a short series and by the very nature of the condition to state dogmatically that scrotal pneumocele and inguinal hernia occurring during pneumoperitoneum therapy is the enlargement of a previously existing embryological remnant of the processus vaginalis, one of the cases (Case 1) had a contralateral congenital hernia, and it is felt that all patients upon whom pneumoperitoneum induction is contemplated should be examined carefully for hernia as a preliminary measure.