During inguinal hernia repair, the surgeon finds hernial sacs on both sides of the inferior epigastric vessels, with a single continuous sac passing around them. This configuration is known as:

• A Divarication of the recti
• B Double indirect hernia
• C Cooper's hernia
• D Saddlebag (pantaloon) hernia ✓

Explanation

D pantaloon or saddlebag hernia consists of combined direct and indirect components that straddle the inferior epigastric vessels like a pair of trousers. If only the direct component is repaired and the occult indirect sac lateral to the vessels is missed, recurrence follows quickly. Recognising the saddlebag pattern mandates exploration and repair of both components, usually by opening the posterior wall and converting to a preperitoneal or mesh repair covering both defects.

Reference: Bailey and Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.