Hernias Flashcards
What is an abdominal hernia?
Protrusion of abdominal contents
outside of the abdominal wall
What are the parts of an abdominal hernia?
Abdominal wall layers
Peritoneum
Abdominal contents
How is the location of an abdominal hernia described?
At the point where the abdominal contents leave the abdominal wall
Where do abdominal hernias occur?
Weak areas of abdominal wall
What are some examples of weak areas in the abdominal wall?
Umbilicus
Inguinal canal
Femoral canal
Hesselbach’s triangle
What is the most common type abdominal hernia?
Inguinal hernia
What are the types of inguinal hernias?
Direct
Indirect
Are direct or indirect inguinal hernias more common?
Indirect
Are indirect inguinal hernias more common in males or females?
Males
Do indirect inguinal hernias usually occur on the right side or the left side?
Right side
What do the abdominal contents pass through in indirect inguinal hernias?
Pass through incompletely obliterated processus vaginalis
into inguinal canal
How far do the abdominal contents pass through the inguinal canal in indirect inguinal hernias?
Depends on the point up to where the processus vaginalis obliterated
How far can the abdominal contents pass in indirect inguinal hernias if the processus vaginalis didn’t obliterate at all?
Can pass all the way into the scrotum
Where are indirect inguinal hernias located in relation to the inferior epigastric vessels?
Laterally to the inferior epigastric vessels
What do abdominal contents pass through in direct inguinal hernias?
Through Hesselbach’s triangle
Then through area around superficial ring of inguinal canal, but do not pass into inguinal canal!
Where are direct inguinal hernias located in relation to the inferior epigastric vessels?
Medially to inferior epigastric vessels
Are femoral hernias more common in males or females?
Females
What do abdominal contents pass through in femoral hernias?
Through femoral ring into femoral canal
then out of femoral canal
then through saphenous opening
What is meant by a reducible abdominal hernia?
Can push abdominal contents back in
What is meant by an incarcerated abdominal hernia?
Can’t push abdominal contents back in
irreducible
Are femoral hernias reducible or incarcerated?
Incarcerated
What is a complication of a femoral hernia?
Become strangulated
What is meant by a strangulated femoral hernia?
Blood supply to abdominal contents that have herniated is cut off
Are umbilical hernias more common in males or females?
Females
What do abdominal contents pass through in an umbilical hernia?
Weakness in scar of umbilicus
What is the order of abdominal contents pushing through in an epigastric hernia?
Extra-peritoneal fat
then peritoneum
What do abdominal contents pass through in an epigastric hernia?
Linea alba
between xiphoid process and umbilicus
What are the signs and symptoms of an abdominal hernia?
Pain
Swelling
Nausea, vomiting
Sepsis
How do abdominal hernias lead to sepsis?
Hernia becomes strangulated
tissue death by necrosis
cell products enter the blood
