Background: Spontaneous hernia rupture is a rare complication, occurring primarily in patients with ascites and concerning mainly umbilical hernias. Retrospective analysis of a case series based on hospital and follow-up records was performed.
Case Report: Between 1999 and 2002 four patients were treated for this condition in the General and Vascular
Surgery Department University School of Medical Sciences Bydgoszcz Poland, later renamed
and reorganized in the General and Endocrine Surgery Department. Two had suffered umbilical hernia rupture in the course of hepatic cirrhosis and ascites. In the remaining two patients, giant incisional hernias formed after gynecological and obstetric procedures. In the first case it was a hernia after a cesarean section, and in the second the rupture occurred in a patient who had undergone a radical hysterectomy with subsequent radiotherapy for uterine cancer. Patient age range was 60-72 years, comprising 2 males and 2 females. One female patient died during the postoperative course due to pulmonary embolism. In two patients the abdominal wall was reinforced with synthetic meshes. In both cases proper healing was observed. One of them suffered umbilical hernia rupture in the cause of hepatic cirrhosis and ascites.
Conclusions: Analyzing available data and our own material, we conclude that spontaneous hernia rupture
can be effectively treated and that synthetic materials (meshes) may be used in the process even
in spontaneous ascitic hernial ruptures.

Keywords: Hernia, Rupture, Ascites