External hernia is one of the commonest causes of intestinal obstruction. Femoral hernia is a relatively uncommon hernia. It has a very high complication rate due to delayed diagnosis caused by deceptive symptomatology and subtle signs. CT scan enables a prompt diagnosis. Rigorous resuscitation followed by prompt surgical intervention is the mainstay of treatment. A case of a strangulated femoral hernia in a patient with complicated co morbid medical disorders is presented to highlight the pitfalls in initial clinical assessment.