Rare complication of pediatric inguinal hernia repair: case report of transection of the femoral vein.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of pediatric inguinal hernias ranges up to 13 %. Currently, many different techniques are being used to successfully perform herniotomy and risks of complications are minor.

CASE REPORT: This case report describes a 4-year-old male patient who underwent routine herniotomy during which the femoral vein was mistaken for hernial sac and thereby the femoral vein was transected. Postoperative vascular duplex ultrasonography revealed a complete transection of the right common femoral vein. Multiple treatment options such as venous reconstruction and interposition were considered, but a conservative treatment was chosen. At 6 months postoperative, the patient only shows minor complaints. Long-term results remain uncertain, especially since no similar case has previously been described in the current literature.