Hernia (Introduction and Inguinal Hernia Repair) Flashcards
What is a hernia?
Protrusion of a peritoneal sac through a musculoaponeurotic barrier (eg., abdominal wall); a fascial defect
What is the incidence of hernias (overall, type)?
5-10% lifetime
50% indirect inguinal
25% direct inguinal
~5% femoral
What are the precipitating factors of a hernia?
Increased intra-abdominal pressure (straining at defection or urination 2/2 rectal or colon cancer, prostatic enlargement, constipation), obesity, pregnancy, ascites, valsavagenic (coughing) COPD
An abnormal congenital anatomic route
Why should hernias be repaire?
To avoid complications of incarceration/strangulation, bowel necrosis, SBO, pain
What is more dangerous - a small or large hernia defect?
Small defect, because a tight defect is more likely to strangulate if incarcerated
What is a reducible hernia?
Ability to return the displaced organ or tissue/hernia contents to their usual anatomic site
What is an incarcerated hernia?
Swollen or fixed within the hernia sac; may cause intestinal obstruction
What is a strangulated hernia?
Incarcerated hernia with resulting ischemia (signs and symptoms of ischemia and intestinal obstruction or bowel necrosis)
What is a complete hernia?
Hernia sac and its contents protrude all the way through the defect
What is an incomplete hernia?
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 sliding hernia.
Hernia sac partially formed by the wall of a viscus (i.e., bladder/cecum)
Define Littre’s hernia.
Hernia involving a Meckel’s diverticulum
Think alphabetically - Littre Meckel’s = LM
Define Spigelian hernia.
Hernia through the linea semilunaris (or spigelian fascia); aka spontaneous lateral ventral hernia
Think spigelian = semilunaris
What is an internal hernia?
Hernia in or involving intra-abdominal structure
What is a Peterson’s hernia?
Seen after bariatric gastric bypass - internal herniation of small bowel through the mesenteric defect from the Roux limb
What is an obturator hernia?
Hernia through obturator canal (F>M)
What is a 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 (2 sacs separated by the inferior epigastric vessels)
What is an incisional hernia?
Hernia through an incisional site; most common cause is wound infection
What is a ventral hernia?
Incisional hernia in the ventral abdominal wall
What is a parastomal hernia?
Hernia adjacent to an ostomy
What is 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 abbdomen without signs of obstruction
What is an epigastric hernia?
Hernia through the linea alba above the umbilicus
What is an umbilical hernia?
Hernia through the umbilical ring, in adults associated with ascites, pregnancy, and obesity
What is a femoral hernia?
Hernia medial to femoral vessels (under inguinal ligament)
What is an indirect inguinal hernia?
Inguinal hernia lateral to Hesselbach’s triangle
What is a direct inguinal hernia?
Inguinal hernia within Hesselbach’s trinagle
What is a hiatal hernia?
Hernia through esophageal hiatus?
What are the boundaries of Hesselbach’s triangle?
Inferior epigastric vessels (medial diagonal)
Inguinal ligament (Poupart’s)
Lateral border of the rectus sheath (lateral diagonal)
Floor: internal oblique and transversus abdominis
What are the layers of the abdominal wall beginning with the skin?
Skin Subcutaneous fat Scarpa's fascia External oblique Internal oblique Transversus abdominus Transversalis fascia Preperitoneal fat Peritoneum