General Surgery - Hernias Flashcards
What is a hernia?
(L. rupture) Protrusion of a peritoneal sac through a musculoaponeurotic barrier (e.g. abdominal wall), a fascial defect
What is the incidence of hernias?
5-10% lifetime
50% indirect inguinal
25% direct inguinal
~5% are femoral
What are the precipitating factors of hernias?
Increased intra-abdominal pressure: straining at defecation or urination (rectal cancer, colon cancer, prostatic enlargement, constipation), obesity, pregnancy, ascites, valsavagenic (coughing) COPD, an abnormal congenital anatomic route (ie patent processus vaginalis)
Why should hernias be repaired?
To avoid complications of incarceration/strangulation, bowel necrosis, SBO (small bowel obstruction), pain
What is more dangerous: a small or large hernia defect?
Small defect! a tight defect is more likely to strangulate if incarcerated
Define Reducible
Ability to return the displaced organ or tissue/hernia contents to their usual anatomic site
Define Incarcerated
Swollen or fixed within the hernia sac (incarcerated = imprisoned), may cause intestinal obstruction (ie an irreducible hernia)
Define strangulated
Incarcerated hernia with resulting ischemia, will result in signs and symptoms of ischemia and intestinal obstruction or bowel necrosis (think: strangulated = choked)
Define complete
Hernia sac and its contents protrude all the way through the defect
Define incomplete
Defect present without sac or contents protruding completely through it
What is reducing a hernia “en masse”?
reducing the hernia contents and hernia sac
Define a Sliding hernia
Hernia sac partially formed by the wall of a viscus (ie, bladder/cecum)
Define Littre’s hernia
Hernia involving a Meckel’s diverticulum
(think alphabetically: Littre’s Meckel’s = LM)
Define Spigelian hernia
Hernia through the linea semilunaris (or spigelian fascia), also known as spontaneous lateral ventral hernia
(Think S: Spigelian = Semilunaris)
Define internal hernia
Hernia into or involving intra-abdominal structure
Define Petersen’s hernia
Seen after bariatric gastric bypass - internal herniation of small bowel through the mesenteric defect from the Roux limb
Define Obturator hernia
Hernia through obturator canal
females > males
Define lumbar hernia
Petit’s hernia or Grynfeltt’s hernia (next cards)
Define Petit’s hernia (a lumbar hernia)
RARE hernia through Petit’s triangle (aka inferior lumbar triangle)
Think: PETITe = small = inferior
Grynfeltt’s hernia (a lumbar hernia)
Hernia through Grynfeltt-Lesshaft triangle (superior lumbar triangle)
Define Pantaloon hernia
Hernia sac exists as BOTH A DIRECT AND INDIRECT hernia straddling the inferior epigastric vessels and protruding through the floor of the canal as well as the internal ring (two sacs separated by the inferior epigastric vessels [the pant crotch] like a pair of pantaloon pants)
Define incisional hernia
Hernia through an incisional site; most common cause is a wound infection
Ventral hernia
Incisional hernia in the ventral abdominal wall
Define Parastomal hernia
Hernia adjacent to an ostomy (e.g. colostomy)
Define Sciatic hernia
Hernia through the sciatic foramen
Define Richter’s hernia
Incarcerated or strangulated hernia involving only ONE SIDEWALL OF THE BOWEL, which can spontaneously reduce, resulting in gangrenous bowel and perforation within the abdomen without signs of obstruction
Define Epigastric hernia
Hernia through the linea alba above the umbilicus
Define Umbilical hernia
Hernia through the umbilical ring, in adults associated with ascites, pregnancy, and obesity
Define Intraparietal hernia
Hernia in which abdominal contents migrate between the layers of the abdominal wall
Define Femoral hernia
Hernia medial to femoral vessels (under inguinal ligament)
Define Hesselbach’s hernia
Hernia under inguinal ligament LATERAL to femoral vessels
Define Bochdalek’s hernia
Hernia through the posterior diaphragm, usually on the left
Think: Boch da lek = back to the left, on the diaphragm
Define Morgagni’s hernia
Anterior parasternal diaphragmatic hernia
Define Properitoneal hernia
Intraparietal hernia between the peritoneum and transversalis fascia
Define Cooper’s hernia
Hernia through the femoral canal and tracking into the scrotum or labia majus
Indirect Inguinal Hernia
inguinal hernia LATERAL to Hesselbach’s triangle
Direct Inguinal Hernia
inguinal hernia WITHIN Hesselbach’s triangle
Hiatal hernia
Hernia through esophageal hiatus
Amyand’s hernia
Hernia sac containing a ruptured appendix
Think A: Amyand’s = Appendix
What are the boundaries of Hesselbach’s triangle?
- Inferior epigastric vessels
- Inguinal ligament (Poupart’s)
- Lateral border of the rectus sheath
Floor consists of internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscle
What are the layers of the abdominal wall?
Skin
Subcutaneous fat
Scarpa’s fascia
External oblique
Internal oblique
Transversus abdominus
Transversalis fascia
Preperitoneal fat
Peritoneum
***All three muscle layer aponeuroses form the anterior rectus sheath, with the posterior rectus sheath being deficient below the arcuate line
What is the differential diagnosis for a mass in a healed C-section incision?
Hernia
ENDOMETRIOMA
What is the differential diagnosis of a groin mass?
Lymphadenopathy, hematoma, seroma, abscess, hydrocele, femoral artery aneurysm, EIC (epidermal inclusion cyst), undescended testicle, testicle torsion
What is a Direct Inguinal Hernia?
Hernia within the floor of Hesselbach’s triangle, ie the hernia sac does not traverse the internal ring
Think directly through the abdominal wall
What causes a Direct Inguinal Hernia?
Acquired defect from mechanical breakdown over the years
Incidence of a Direct inguinal Hernia?
~1% of all men, frequently increases with advanced age
What nerve runs with the spermatic cord in the inguinal canal?
Ilioinguinal nerve
What is an Indirect Inguinal Hernia?
Hernia through the internal ring of the inguinal canal, traveling down toward the external ring, it may enter the scrotum upon exiting the external ring (ie, if complete), think of the hernia sac traveling indirectly through the abdominal wall from the internal ring to the external ring