Herniaes Flashcards
What are the common herniaes which occur in children?`
Umbilical and inguinal
Describe the clinical features of an inguinal hernia?
A swelling or bulge seen in the groin or scrotum.
May only be seen when the intra-abdominal pressure is increased i.e. when the child is crying.
Congenital defect: due to failure of the processus vaginalis to close. More common on the rt side as the the rt testicle descends later.
Usually present in the 1st 6 months of life.
Describe the clinical features of an umbilical hernia?
They appear as a bulge at the umbilicus.
They are not usually painful and are much more obvious when the child cries or strains.
What are the risks associated with herniaes?
Incarceration( the hernia will be irreducible): the bowel becomes trapped in the hernia which commonly causes bowel obstruction.
Strangulation: where the trapped bowels blood supply is cut off which can cause bowel necrosis.
How can you differentiate between a hydrocoele and an inguinal hernia?
Hydroceles will transilluminate.
Note: in cases of inguinal hernia incarceration, transillumination may not be beneficial because any viscera that is distended and fluid-filled in the scrotum of a young infant may also transilluminate.
