The plug-and-patch technique is frequently used for the open repair of inguinal hernias; however, serious complications may arise on rare occasions. We present the case of a 69-year-old patient who presented with a colocutaneous fistula with the sigmoid colon 9 years after the repair of a left sliding inguinal hernia with the plug-and-patch technique. The patient underwent sigmoidectomy and excision of the fistulous track. He was discharged on postoperative day 5 and had an uneventful recovery. Although such complications are reported rarely, the surgeon must be aware of them when deciding upon the method of hernia repair.

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We present the case of a 38-year-old patient with a history of Hepatitis B Virus-associated Polyarteritis Nodosa, who presented with acute abdomen and septic shock. The patient initially had three perforations of the small intestine that were treated with segmental enterectomy and anastomosis at two sites. During his postoperative course he continued to develop new perforations and necrotic lesions along the whole length of the small intestine, that mandated repetitive laparotomies and the technique of the open abdomen was employed. Despite the aggressive surgical treatment and the medical treatment with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and plasma exchanges, the patient died 15 days after the first operation due to septic shock and multiple organ failure.