Amyand's hernia in premature neonates: report of two cases.

The finding of a normal or inflamed vermiform appendix within an inguinal hernia is termed Amyand's hernia. It is extremely rare in children, especially in infants and neonates. When it occurs, it is usually misdiagnosed as an irreducible or strangulated inguinal hernia, and the accurate diagnosis is made intraoperatively. We report two cases of Amyand's hernia in premature neonates. Both patients presented on admission with signs and symptoms indicating a strangulated right inguinal hernia, and the accurate diagnosis was made intraoperatively. One of them had progressed to local peritonitis. Appendicectomy and hernia repair were made at the same time through an inguinal transverse incision, and the postoperative course was uneventful in both. We point out the need to consider acute appendicitis in the differential diagnosis of strangulated right inguinal hernia.