Incisional hernia mistaken for shoplifting

doi:10.1136/bmjusa.01090008

BMJ, doi: 10.1136/bmjusa.01090008, (Published 5 September 2002)

Fillers

Incisional hernia mistaken for shoplifting

P Mohammed, specialist registrar.

N McLean, consultant, department of plastic surgery.

Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK

R Charnley, consultant surgeon.

Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NE7 7DN, UK

This article originally appeared in BMJ USA

A 31 year old man developed an incisional hernia after treatment for necrotising pancreatitis by necrosectomy and laparostomy(with the abdomen left open to heal by secondary intention). Theabdominal swelling caused suspicion among security officers indepartment stores, who continually kept him under surveillance,convinced he was a shoplifter, only to be disappointed as he passedthrough the exit without setting off the alarms. The hernia wasrepaired with a Marlex mesh and muscle and skin advancement. Heis now looking forward to going shopping for new trousers withoutthe company of store detectives.

Footnotes

This item originally appeared in the June 30, 2001 issue of "BMJ" (322:1612). Full text and related material are availableon BMJ 's web site, bmj.com.

© BMJ 2002