Perforated appendicitis in an incarcerated inguinal hernia.

Although perforated appendicitis in an incarcerated hernia is an uncommon condition, the clinical manifestations vary from relatively benign to much more serious, depending on whether the septic process is limited to the hernial canal and sac or if there is intraperitoneal contamination. The patient described in this report had minimal symptoms other than a slightly tender, irreducible inguinal hernia. He easily tolerated resection of the appendix and contiguous inguinal tissues, with a primary repair of the inguinal hernia.