Hernias Flashcards

1
Q

What is a hernia.

A

The protrusion of a viscus or part of a viscus through a defect of the wall of its containing cavity into an abnormal position.

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2
Q

What is an irreducible hernia.

A

Hernias involving the bowel are said to be irreducible if they cannot be pushed back into their right place.

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3
Q

What is an incarcerated hernia.

A

It implies that the contents of the hernial sac are stuck inside by adhesions.

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4
Q

What is an obstructed hernia.

A

GI hernias are obstructed if bowel contents cannot pass through them.

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5
Q

What set of signs and symptoms do you see with an obstructed GI hernia.

A

The classical features of intestinal obstruction.

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6
Q

What is a strangulated hernia.

A

A hernia is strangulated if the blood supply is cut off and ischaemia occurs.

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7
Q

What is the best course of action when presented with a strangulated hernia.

A

Surgery.

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8
Q

What are the typical hernias that can occur. (14)

A
Inguinal hernias. 
Femoral hernias. 
Paraumbilical hernias. 
Epigastric hernias. 
Incisional hernias. 
Spigelian hernias. 
Lumbar hernias. 
Richter's hernias. 
Maydl's hernias. 
Littre's hernias. 
Obturator hernias. 
Sciatic hernias. 
Sliding hernias. 
Other...
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9
Q

What is the typical presentation of a femoral hernia. (2)

A

Bowel enters the femoral canal, presenting as a mass in the upper medial thigh or above the inguinal ligament (it points down the leg).

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10
Q

Who do femoral hernias occur most in. (2)

A

Women.

Especially middle aged and elderly.

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11
Q

What complication can occur with a femoral hernia. (2)

A

They can become strangulated.

They tend to be irreducible due to the rigidity of the canal borders.

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12
Q

What is the anatomy of a femoral hernia. (5)

A

The neck: it is felt inferior and lateral to the pubic tubercle.
The boundaries of the femoral canal are-
Anteriorly: the inguinal ligament.
Medially: the lacunar ligament (and pubic bone).
Laterally: femoral vein (and iliopsoas).
Posteriorly: the pectineal ligament and pectineus.

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13
Q

What is contained within the femoral canal. (2)

A

Fat.

Cloquet’s node.

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14
Q

What is the differential diagnosis for a femoral hernia. (6)

A
Inguinal hernia. 
Saphena varix. 
Enlarged Cloquet's node. 
Lipoma. 
Femoral aneurysm. 
Psoas abscess.
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15
Q

Where do paraumbilical hernias occur.

A

Just above or below the umbilicus.

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16
Q

What are some risk factors for paraumbilical hernias. (2)

A

Obesity.

Ascites.

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17
Q

What is within a paraumbilical hernia. (2)

A

Omentum or bowel.

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18
Q

Where do epigastric hernias occur.

A

They pass through the lineal alba above the umbilicus.

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19
Q

Where do incisional hernias occur.

A

They follow breakdown of muscle closure after surgery (11-20%).

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20
Q

What complicates an incisional hernia repair.

A

Obesity.

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21
Q

What is associated with mesh repair of incisional hernias. (2)

A

Lower recurrence rate.

Increased infection rate over sutures.

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22
Q

Where do spigelian hernias occur.

A

They occur through the linea semilunaris at the lateral edge of the rectus sheath, below and lateral to the umbilicus.

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23
Q

Where do lumbar hernias occur.

A

They occur through the inferior or superior lumbar triangles in the posterior abdominal wall.

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24
Q

What is the characteristic of Richter’s hernias.

A

They involve bowel wall only, not the whole lumen.

25
Q

What do Maydl’s hernias involve. (2)

A

They involve herniating ‘double loop’ of bowel.

The strangulated portion may reside as a single loop INSIDE the abdominal cavity.

26
Q

What are Littre’s hernias.

A

They are hernial sacs containing strangulated Meckel’s diverticulum.

27
Q

Where do obturator hernias occur.

A

They occur through the obturator canal.

28
Q

What is a typical symptom of an obturator hernia in a thin woman.

A

Pain along the medial side of the thigh.

29
Q

What is a sciatic hernia.

A

They pass through the lesser sciatic foramen.

30
Q

What suggests a sciatic hernia. (2)

A

A gluteal mass.

GI obstruction.

31
Q

What do sliding hernias contain.

A

A partially extraperitoneal structure.

32
Q

What is a characteristic of sliding hernias.

A

The sac does not completely surround the contents.

33
Q

Name a few other causes of hernias. (4)

A

Slipped disc.
Arnold-Chiari hernia.
Hiatus hernia.
Tentorial hernia.

34
Q

What percentage of male infants suffer from indirect inguinal hernias.

A

4%.

35
Q

What is the cause of an indirect inguinal hernia in an infant male.

A

Patent procesus vaginalis.

36
Q

What is a risk factor for a male infant to develop an inguinal hernia.

A

Prematurity.

37
Q

What does it mean if you see a patent process vaginalis filled with fluid.

A

There is a communicating hydrocele.

38
Q

What percentage of live births have true umbilical hernias.

A

3%.

39
Q

What is the cause of a true umbilical hernia.

A

Persistent defect in the tranversalis fascia 9(the umbilical ring).

40
Q

What are the risk factors for a true umbilical hernia. (3)

A

African-Caribbeans.
Trisomy 21.
Congenital hypothyroidism.

41
Q

What is the route of an indirect inguinal hernia. (2)

A

They pass through the internal inguinal ring.

If they are large, the pass out through the external ring.

42
Q

What is the route of a direct inguinal hernia.

A

They push their way directly forward through the posterior wall of the inguinal canal, into a defect in the abdominal wall.

43
Q

What is Hesselach’s triangle. (3)

A

Medial to the inferior epigastric vessels.
Lateral to the rectus abdominus.
Where most direct inguinal hernias emerge.

44
Q

What are some predisposing conditions to develop an inguinal hernia. (7)

A
Male. 
Chronic cough. 
Constipation. 
Urinary obstruction. 
Heavy lifting. 
Ascites. 
Past abdominal surgery.
45
Q

What is the ratio of males:females who get inguinal hernias.

A

8:1.

46
Q

What are the two important landmarks to identify. (2)

A

The deep inguinal ring.

The superficial inguinal ring.

47
Q

What is the landmark for the deep inguinal ring.

A

The mid-point of the inguinal ligament.

48
Q

What is the landmark for the superficial inguinal ring.

A

A split in the external aponeurosis just superior and medial to the pubic tubercle.

49
Q

What is the floor of the inguinal canal. (2)

A

Inguinal ligament.

Medially it is the lacunar ligament.

50
Q

What is the roof of the inguinal canal. (2)

A

Fibres of transversalis.

Internal oblique.

51
Q

What is the anterior wall of the inguinal canal. (2)

A

External oblique aponeurosis.

Internal oblique for the lateral third.

52
Q

What is the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. (2)

A

Laterally: transversalis fascia.
Medialy: conjoint tendon.

53
Q

What side are inguinal hernias most common.

A

Right side.

54
Q

How do you distinguish a direct from an indirect inguinal hernia on clinical exam. (5)

A
Reduce the hernia. 
Occlude the deep ring with two fingers. 
Ask the patient to cough or stand up. 
If the hernia is restrained = indirect. 
If the hernia appears = direct.
55
Q

Where do direct inguinal hernias occur.

A

Medial to the inferior epigastric vessels.

56
Q

Where do indirect inguinal hernias occur.

A

Lateral to the inferior epigastric vessels.

57
Q

What are most inguinal hernias.

A

Indirect (80%).

58
Q

What kind of inguinal hernia more commonly strangulate.

A

Indirect.

59
Q

What two types of hernias frequently strangulate. (2)

A

Indirect inguinal hernias.

Femoral hernias.