Abdominal Wall Hernias Flashcards
what is a hernia?
protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it
what are the risk factors for abdominal hernias?
- obesity
- ascites
- increasing age
- surgical wounds
what are the features of an abdominal hernia?
- palpable lump
- cough inpulse
- pain
- obstruction
- strangulation
what type of hernias are more likely to lead to an obstruction?
femoral hernias
where is an inguinal hernia?
above and medial to the pubic tubercle
where is femoral hernia?
below and lateral to the pubic tubercle
who are most at risk of developing an inguinal hernia?
men
who are most at risk of developing a femoral hernia?
women - particularly multiparous females
what is the management of femoral hernia?
surgical repair
high risk of obstruction and strangulation
where is an umbilical hernia?
symmetrical bulge under the umbilicus
where is a paraumbilical hernia?
asymmetrical bulge - half the sac is covered by skin of the abdomen directly above or below the umbilicus
where is epigastric hernia?
lump in the midline between umbilicus and the xiphisternum
what are the risk factors for developing epigastric hernia?
- extensive physical training
- extensive coughing (from lung diseases)
- obesity
what is an incisional hernia?
- hernia located in the site of a previous abdominal incision
- 10% of abdominal operations
also know as lateral ventral hernia
what is a spigelian hernia?
hernia through the spigelian fascia (the apnoenurotic layer between the rectus abdominis muscle medially and the semilunar line laterally)
where is obturator hernia?
hernia which passes through the obturator foramen
who is most at risk of developing obturator hernia?
females
how does obturator hernia present?
typically with bowel obstruction
what is a richter hernia?
rare type of hernia where only the antimesenteric border of the bowel herniates through the fascial defect
how do richter’s hernias present?
with strangulation without symptoms of obstruction
name the different types of abdominal wall hernias in children
- congential inguinal hernia
- infantile uumbilical hernia
what is a congential inguinal hernia?
indirect hernias resulting from a patent processus vaginalis
how are congenital inguinal hernias managed?
surgically repaired soon after diagnosis as at risk of incaraceration
what is an infantile umbilical hernia?
symmetrical bulge under the umbilicus
how are infantile umbilical hernias managed?
resolve without intervention before the age of 4-5 years
who are most at risk of developing an infantile umbilical hernia?
- premature
- afro-caribbean
