Gallbladder strangulation within an incisional hernia

We describe here the first case in the literature of gallbladder strangulation within an incisional hernia. A patient with a history of rectal cancer operation presented with a "surgical abdomen" and a palpable right upper quadrant mass at the site of the previous colostomy. At surgery, a strangulated gallbladder was found in the subcutaneous tissue. Cholecystectomy was performed, and patient recovery was uneventful. If gallbladder strangulation is suspected, the surgeon should avoid forceful attempts at hernia reduction, as this may cause rupture of the gallbladder and subsequent contamination. © Springer-Verlag 2004.