Hernias Flashcards
What is a hernia?
Protrusion of a peritoneal sac through a musculoaponeurotic barrier.
A fascial defect.
What is the incidence of hernia?
5-10% lifetime
What are the precipitating factors for hernias?
Straining at defecation or urination (rectal cancer, colon cancer, prostatic enlargement, constipation); obesity; pregnancy; ascites; valsavagenic (coughing); COPD; abnormal congenital anatomic route
Why should hernias be repaired?
To avoid complications of incarceration and strangulation, bowel necrosis, SBO, pain
What is more dangerous: a small or large hernia defect?
Small because a tight defect is more likely to strangulate if incarcerated
What is a reducible hernia?
Ability to return the displaced organ or tissue to their usual anatomic site
What is an incarcerated hernia?
Contents swollen or fixed within the hernia sac.
May cause intestinal obstruction.
What is a strangulated hernia?
Incarcerated hernia with resulting ischemia.
Will result in 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
What is a sliding hernia?
Hernia sac partially formed by the wall of a viscus (e.g. bladder, cecum)
What is a Littre’s hernia?
Hernia involving a Meckel’s diverticulum
What is a spigelian hernia?
Hernia through the linea semilunaris (or spigelian fascia).
Also known as spontaneous lateral ventral hernia.
What is an internal hernia?
Hernia into or involving intra-abdominal structure
What is a Petersen’s hernia?
Internal herniation of small bowel through the mesenteric defect from the Roux limb after bariatric gastric bypass
What is an obturator hernia?
Hernia through obturator canal (F > M)
What is a lumbar hernia?
Petit’s hernia or Grynfeltt’s hernia
What is a Petit’s hernia?
Hernia through Petit’s triangle (inferior lumbar triangle)
What is a Grynfeltt’s hernia?
Hernia through Grynfeltt’s triangle (superior lumbar triangle)
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
What is an incisional hernia?
Hernia through an incisional site.
Most common cause is a 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 a sciatic hernia?
Hernia through the sciatic foramen
What is a 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
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 an intraparietal hernia?
Hernia in which abdominal contents migrate between the layers of the abdominal wall
What is a femoral hernia?
Hernia medial to femoral vessels (under inguinal ligament)
What is a Hesselbach’s hernia?
Hernia under inguinal ligament lateral to femoral vessels
What is a Bochdalek’s hernia?
Hernia through the posterior diaphragm, usually on the left
What is a Morgagni’s hernia?
Anterior parasternal diaphragmatic hernia
What is a properitoneal hernia?
Intraparietal hernia between the peritoneum and transversalis fascia
What is a Cooper’s hernia?
Hernia through the femoral canal and tracking into the scrotum or labia majus
What is an indirect inguinal hernia?
Inguinal hernia lateral to Hesselbach’s triangle
What is a direct inguinal hernia?
Inguinal hernia within Hesselbach’s triangle
What is a hiatal hernia?
Hernia through esophageal hiatus
What is an Amyand’s hernia?
Hernia sac containing a ruptured appendix
What are the boundaries of Hesselbach’s triangle?
- Inferior epigastric vessels
- Inguinal ligament
- Lateral border of the rectus sheath
(Floor consists of internal oblique and the transversus abdominis muscle)
What is the differential diagnosis for a mass in a healed C-section incision?
Hernia, endometrioma
What is the differential diagnosis for a groin mass?
LAD, hematoma, seroma, abscess, hydrocele, femoral artery aneurysm, EIC, undescended testicle, sarcoma, hernias, testicle torsion