Hernias Flashcards
Predisposing factors for abdominal hernias
Heavy lifting Coughing Constipation Prostatism Pregnancy Obesity (i.e. Raised abdominal pressure)
How are hernias divided?
Reducible
Irreducible
How are irreducible hernias further sub divided?
Obstructed (strangulated?)
Incarcerated (not affect bowel just sitting there)
What is meant by a strangulated hernia?
Compromises blood supply
Venosus system occluded first then arterial
Causes of incisional hernia?
Age Obesity Malignancy Post-op wound infection Ileus Steroids
What causes epigastric hernias to arise?
Congenital weakness of the linea alba
Epigastric hernias are much more common in woman. True/false.
False.
Men 3:1 women
Which side is more common for paediatric inguinal hernias?
Right side
What percentage of femoral hernias present as a surgical emergency?
50%
(50% of those will require small bowel resection
Typical patient of femoral hernia?
Thin elderly female with small bowel obstruction and no previous surgery
What is the most common type of hernia?
Inguinal hernia
Other causes of scrotal swelling that ain’t hernia?
Hydrocoele
Epididymal cyst
Testicular swelling
What are the 2 types of inguinal hernia?
Direct
Indirect
When do you operate on hernias?
Of at risk of complications (e.g. femoral)
Hernia with previous symptoms of obstruction
Interfering with lifestyle
Complications of inguinal hernia
Haematoma Acute urinary retention Wound infection Chronic neurogenic pain Hernia recurrence Testicular pain & atrophy
