First laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal repair of Laugier's hernia: a case report.

An atypical femoral hernia developing through the lacunar ligament is called Laugier's hernia. Preoperative diagnosis of these atypical hernias is very difficult because of their rarity and similar clinical appearance to conventional femoral hernias. A 52-year-old female presented with right groin swelling. During laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair, a hernia sac through an opening in the lacunar ligament was diagnosed and repaired with mesh covering the inguinal floor. The surgeon should be alert to the possibility of an atypical femoral hernia when examining patients with inguinal hernias. A laparoscopic approach should be chosen instead of a conventional approach for the treatment of femoral hernias because of its high diagnostic and therapeutic capacity for all types of femoral hernia, including Laugier's.