Background: We present a case in which laparoscopy was both diagnostic and therapeutic in a patient with a spigelian hernia.
Case report: A 35-year-old man was referred to the General Surgery Service for evaluation of right lower quadrant abdominal pain of approximately 6 months. The pain was not disabling but was a constant discomfort. The patient did not have any significant past medical or surgical history, and the physical examination was significant only for an area of focal tenderness in the right lower quadrant. Ultrasound and CT scans of the patient's abdomen were unremarkable. A laparoscopic exploration of the area revealed a defect in the area of semilunar and semicircular lines consistent with a spigelian hernia. The patient underwent a laparoscopic herniorrhaphy with placement of a polypropylene mesh.
Conclusion: This case illustrates the role of laparoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of spigelian hernias.