Femoral hernia Flashcards
1
Q
What is femorocele
A
- Protrusion of (part of) viscus through defect of walls of its containing cavity into abnormal position
2
Q
Who is it more likely to occur in
A
Women (wider hips) - esp middle aged + elderly
3
Q
How common is it
A
Rare - 3% of hernias
4
Q
What causes it
A
Bowel enters through femoral canal
5
Q
What can happen to the hernia
A
o Irreducible (becomes stuck to femoral canal) or reducible o Obstructed o Strangulated – when blood supply of that part of intestine is blocked = ISCHAEMIA (medical emergency)
- Likely to be irreducible + strangulate due to rigidity of canal’s borders
6
Q
Where is the hernia + what are the boundaries of the femoral canal
A
Neck of hernia = inferior + lateral to pubic tubercule
Boundaries of femoral canal
- Ant: inguinal ligament
- Med: Lacunar ligament (+ pubic bone)
- Lat: femoral veins + iliopsoas
- Post: pectineal ligament + pectineus
7
Q
What are the symptoms of a femoral hernia
A
- Lump in groin (inferior + lateral to pubic tubercle)
- Appears or swells on coughing + reduces/disappears when supine/relaxed
- May be cough impulse
- May be ass w/ lower abdo pain if incarceration occurs
8
Q
What is a DDx
A
Inguinal hernia
9
Q
What investigations would you perform
A
- Dx largely clinical
- Imaging helpful –> USS (then CT/MRI)
10
Q
What is the treatment for femoral hernias
A
- Surgery - hernitomy, mesh techniques (reinforce post. wall)
