Hernias

Question 1

Which of these is not a risk factor for developing a hernia?
a) Lifting heavy weights
b) Previous abdominal surgery
c) Steroid use
d) Chronic cough
e) Straining whilst defecating

Answer 1

Steroid use

Lifting heavy weights increases your intra-abdominal pressure and puts stress on the abdominal wall. Previous surgery weakens your abdominal wall muscles. Chronic cough puts persistent and intense pressure on your muscles and can cause a hiatus hernia. Straining on defecating increases intra-abdominal pressure which puts stress on the abdominal wall.

Question 2

six types of hernia we need to be aware of?

Answer 2

+ hiatus (stomach herniates up through diaphragm opening)

Question 3

how do you describe a hernia that can’t be pushed back into the right place?

Answer 3

irreducible

Question 4

what are the two types of hiatus hernia?

Answer 4

• sliding - where the gastro-oesophageal junction slides up into chest
• rolling - bulge of stomach herniates into chest
  (both usually through opening of diaphragm)

Question 5

what’s it called when a Meckel’s diverticulum herniates?

Answer 5

Littre hernia

Question 6

what’s the name for a hernia that involves the bowel only?

Answer 6

Richter’s hernia

Question 7

when does surgery for a hernia become urgent?

Answer 7

when the protrusion is strangulated

Question 8

what’s the most common type of hernia?

Answer 8

inguinal hernia