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Hernia Updated 4/2011

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BASICS

  • Description
  • Epidemiology
  • Risk Factors
  • Pathophysiology
  • Etiology
  • Associated Conditions

DIAGNOSIS

  • Signs and Symptoms
  • Tests
  • Differential Diagnosis

TREATMENT

  • Medication (Drugs)
  • Additional Treatment
  • Surgery

Ongoing Care

  • Patient Education
  • Prognosis
The following is an excerpt....
BASICS
Description

This topic pertains to external hernias of the groin and abdominal wall. These are an abnormal protrusion of the contents of the abdominal cavity through a fascial defect in the abdominal wall:

  • Definitions:
    • Reducible: Extruded sac and its contents can be returned to its original intra-abdominal position, either spontaneously or with gentle manual manipulation.
    • Irreducible/incarcerated: Extruded sac and its contents cannot be returned to its original intra-abdominal position.
    • Strangulated: Compromise of blood supply to hernia sac contents
    • Richter: Partial circumference of bowel is incarcerated or strangulated. Partial wall damage may occur, increasing potential for bowel rupture and peritonitis.
    • Sliding (wall of a viscus forms part of the wall of the inguinal hernia sac)R-cecum ...

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See Also
Images >
Figure 43.1. Indirect inguinal hernia.Credit: From Harwood-Nuss A, MD FACEP, Wolfson AB, MD, FACEP, FACP, et al. The Clinical Practice of Emergency Medicine, 3rd Edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.