Emergency Cases Northwest Group

019 Googling Goolies

Situation

A 60 year old man presented with a varicocele. He actually had an incarcerated hernia.

Background

He presented with pain in scrotum, abdominal pain and vomiting. He had self diagnosed his chronic left scrotal swelling as a varicocele and told the doctor that’s what he had. Examination revealed an irreducible mass and a swelling along the inguinal canal. Diagnosed as incarcerated inguinal and scrotal hernia and referred to surgery who operated.

Assessment

He didn’t have a varicocele but a hernia that became incarcerated.

Recommendation

Know that a scrotal mass, which you think isn't the testicle could be a hernia, not only a varcicocele. If such a mass doesn’t reduce and the patient appears in pain or vomiting consider an incarcerated hernia.



PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PATIENT IDENTIFIABLE DATA OR GEO-LOCATION DATA IN THE SUBMISSION OR IN ANY ATTACHED IMAGES

Emergency Cases Northwest Group