Hernia (redirected from intra-abdominal hernia)

Hernia 

Definition

Hernia is a general term used to describe a bulge or protrusion of an organ through the structure or muscle that usually contains it.

Description

There are many different types of hernias. The most familiar type are those that occur in the abdomen, in which part of the intestines protrude through the abdominal wall. This may occur in different areas and, depending on the location, the hernia is given a different name.

An inguinal hernia appears as a bulge in the groin and may come and go depending on the position of the person or their level of physical activity. It can occur with or without pain. In men, the protrusion may descend into the scrotum. Inguinal hernias account for 80% of all hernias and are more common in men.

Femoral hernias are similar to inguinal hernias but appear as a bulge slightly lower. They are more common in women due to the strain of pregnancy.

A ventral hernia is also called an incisional hernia because it generally occurs as a bulge in the abdomen at the site of an old surgical scar. It is caused by thinning or stretching of the scar tissue, and occurs more frequently in people who are obese or pregnant.

An umbilical hernia appears as a soft bulge at the navel (umbilicus). It is caused by a weakening of the area or an imperfect closure of the area in infants. This type of hernia is more common in women due to pregnancy, and in Chinese and black infants. Some umbilical hernias in infants disappear without treatment within the first year.

A hiatal or diaphragmatic hernia is different from abdominal hernias in that it is not visible on the outside of the body. With a hiatal hernia, the stomach bulges upward through the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen (the diaphragm). This type of hernia occurs more often in women than in men, and it is treated differently from other types of hernias.

Causes and symptoms

Most hernias result from a weakness in the abdominal wall that either develops or that an infant is born with (congenital). Any increase in pressure in the abdomen, such as coughing, straining, heavy lifting, or pregnancy, can be a considered causative factor in developing an abdominal hernia. Obesity or recent excessive weight loss, as well as aging and previous surgery, are also risk factors.

Most abdominal hernias appear suddenly when the abdominal muscles are strained. The person may feel tenderness, a slight burning sensation, or a feeling of heaviness in the bulge. It may be possible for the person to push the hernia back into place with gentle pressure, or the hernia may disappear by itself when the person reclines. Being able to push the hernia back is called reducing it. On the other hand, some hernias cannot be pushed back into place, and are termed incarcerated or irreducible.

A hiatal hernia may also be caused by obesity, pregnancy, aging, or previous surgery. About 50% of all people with hiatal hernias do not have any symptoms. If symptoms exist they will include heartburn, usually 30-60 minutes following a meal. There may be some mid chest pain due to gastric acid from the stomach being pushed up into the esophagus. The pain and heartburn are usually worse when lying down. Frequent belching and feelings of abdominal fullness may also be present.

Diagnosis

Generally, abdominal hernias need to be seen and felt to be diagnosed. Usually the hernia will increase in size with an increase in abdominal pressure, so the doctor may ask the person to cough while he or she feels the area. Once a diagnosis of an abdominal hernia is made, the doctor will usually send the person to a surgeon for a consultation. Surgery provides the only cure for a hernia through the abdominal wall.

With a hiatal hernia, the diagnosis is based on the symptoms reported by the person. The doctor may then order tests to confirm the diagnosis. If a barium swallow is ordered, the person drinks a chalky white barium solution, which will help any protrusion through the diaphragm show up on the x ray that follows. Currently, a diagnosis of hiatal hernia is more frequently made by endoscopy. This procedure is done by a gastroenterologist (a specialist in digestive diseases). During an endoscopy the person is given an intravenous sedative and a small tube is inserted through the mouth, then into the esophagus and stomach where the doctor can visualize the hernia. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and usually causes no discomfort. It is done on an outpatient basis.

Treatment

Once an abdominal hernia occurs it tends to increase in size. Some patients with abdominal hernias wait and watch for a while prior to choosing surgery. In these cases, they must avoid strenuous physical activity such as heavy lifting or straining with constipation. They may also wear a truss, which is a support worn like a belt to keep a small hernia from protruding. People can tell if their hernia is getting worse if they develop severe constant pain, nausea and vomiting, or if the bulge does not return to normal when lying down or when they try to gently push it back in place. In these cases they should consult with their doctor immediately. But, ultimately, surgery is the treatment in almost all cases.

There are risks to not repairing a hernia surgically. Left untreated, a hernia may become incarcerated, which means it can no longer be reduced or pushed back into place. With an incarcerated hernia the intestines become trapped outside the abdomen. This could lead to a blockage in the intestine. If it is severe enough it may cut off the blood supply to the intestine and part of the intestine might actually die.

When the blood supply is cut off, the hernia is termed "strangulated." Because of the risk of tissue death (necrosis) and gangrene, and because the hernia can block food from moving through the bowel, a strangulated hernia is a medical emergency requiring immediate surgery. Repairing a hernia before it becomes incarcerated or strangulated is much safer than waiting until complications develop.

Surgical repair of a hernia is called a herniorrhaphy. The surgeon will push the bulging part of the intestine back into place and sew the overlying muscle back together. When the muscle is not strong enough, the surgeon may reinforce it with a synthetic mesh.

Surgery can be done on an outpatient basis. It usually takes 30 minutes in children and 60 minutes in adults. It can be done under either local or general anesthesia and is frequently done with a laparoscope. In this type of surgery, a tube that allows visualization of the abdominal cavity is inserted through a small puncture wound. Several small punctures are made to allow surgical instruments to be inserted. This type of surgery avoids a larger incision.

A hiatal hernia is treated differently. Medical treatment is preferred. Treatments include:

There are also several types of medications that help to manage the symptoms of a hiatal hernia. Antacids are used to neutralize gastric acid and decrease heartburn. Drugs that reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach (H2 blockers) are also used. This class of drugs includes famotidine (sold under the name Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), and ranitidine (Zantac). Omeprazole (Prilosec) is not an H2 blocker, but is another drug that suppresses gastric acid secretion and is used for hiatal hernias. Another option may be metoclopramide (Reglan), a drug that increases the tone of the muscle around the esophagus and causes the stomach to empty more quickly.

Alternative treatment

There are alternative therapies for hiatal hernia. Visceral manipulation, done by a trained therapist, can help replace the stomach to its proper positioning. Other options in addition to H2 blockers are available to help regulate stomach acid production and balance. One of them, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL), helps balance stomach acid by improving the protective substances that line the stomach and intestines and by improving blood supply to these tissues. DGL does not interrupt the normal function of stomach acid.

As with traditional therapy, dietary modifications are important. Small, frequent meals will keep pressure down on the esophageal sphincter. Also, raising the head of the bed several inches with blocks or books can help with both the quality and quantity of sleep.

Prognosis

Abdominal hernias generally do not recur in children but can recur in up to 10% of adult patients. Surgery is considered the only cure, and the prognosis is excellent if the hernia is corrected before it becomes strangulated.

Hiatal hernias are treated successfully with medication and diet modifications 85% of the time. The prognosis remains excellent even if surgery is required in adults who are in otherwise good health.

Prevention

Some hernias can be prevented by maintaining a reasonable weight, avoiding heavy lifting and constipation, and following a moderate exercise program to maintain good abdominal muscle tone.

Resources

Books

Bare, Brenda G., and Suzanne C. Smeltzer. Brunner and Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers, 1996.

Key terms

Endoscopy — A diagnostic procedure in which a tube is inserted through the mouth, into the esophagus and stomach. It is used to visualize various digestive disorders, including hiatal hernias.

Herniorrhaphy — Surgical repair of a hernia.

Incarcerated hernia — A hernia that can not be reduced, or pushed back into place inside the intestinal wall.

Reducible hernia — A hernia that can be gently pushed back into place or that disappears when the person lies down.

Strangulated hernia — A hernia that is so tightly incarcerated outside the abdominal wall that the intestine is blocked and the blood supply to that part of the intestine is cut off.

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hernia /her·nia/ (her´ne-ah) [L.] protrusion of a portion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening.her´nial

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abdominal hernia  one through the abdominal wall, either a congenital defect or a complication of pregnancy or a surgical incision.

Barth hernia  one between the serosa of the abdominal wall and that of a persistent vitelline duct.

Béclard's hernia  femoral hernia at the saphenous opening.

Bochdalek hernia  congenital diaphragmatic hernia through the pleuroperitoneal hiatus.

cerebral hernia  protrusion of brain substance through the cranium.

Cloquet's hernia  pectineal h.

complete hernia  one in which the sac and its contents have passed through the hernial orifice.

congenital diaphragmatic hernia  one due to failure of a foramen in the fetal diaphragm to close when the infant is born; abdominal viscera in the thoracic cavity may cause fatal respiratory failure.

diaphragmatic hernia  hernia through the diaphragm.

diverticular hernia  protrusion of a congenital diverticulum of the intestine.

epigastric hernia  a hernia through the linea alba above the navel.

extrasaccular hernia  sliding h.

fat hernia  hernial protrusion of peritoneal fat through the abdominal wall.

femoral hernia  protrusion of a loop of intestine into the femoral canal.

gastroesophageal hernia  paraesophageal h.

Hesselbach's hernia  femoral hernia with a pouch through the cribriform fascia.

hiatal hernia , hiatus hernia protrusion of any structure through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.

Holthouse's hernia  an inguinal hernia that has turned outward into the groin.

incarcerated hernia  a hernia so occluded that it cannot be returned by manipulation; it may or may not be strangulated.

incisional hernia  one through an old abdominal incision.

inguinal hernia  hernia into the inguinal canal.

intermuscular hernia , interparietal hernia an interstitial hernia lying between one or another of the fascial or muscular planes of the abdomen.

interstitial hernia  one in which a knuckle of intestine lies between two layers of the abdominal wall.

intra-abdominal hernia  congenital malpositioning of the intestine within the abdomen, with a portion of it protruding through a defect in the peritoneum or being trapped in a sac of peritoneum.

ischiatic hernia  sciatic h.

labial hernia  one into a labium majus.

mesocolic hernia  paraduodenal h.

obturator hernia  one protruding through the obturator foramen.

omental hernia  an abdominal hernia containing omentum.

ovarian hernia  hernial protrusion of an ovary.

paraduodenal hernia  an intra-abdominal hernia in which the small intestine rotates incompletely during development and becomes trapped in the mesentery of the colon.

paraesophageal hernia  hiatal hernia in which the esophagogastric junction is in place and a small or large part of the stomach protrudes into the thorax.

pectineal hernia  a femoral hernia that enters the femoral canal and then perforates the aponeurosis of the pectineus muscle.

perineal hernia  herniation of intestine into the perineum through a fissure in the levator muscle and its fascia.

preperitoneal hernia , properitoneal hernia an interstitial hernia lying between the parietal peritoneum and the transverse fascia.

reducible hernia  one that can be returned by manipulation.

retrograde hernia  herniation of two loops of intestine, with the part between them being within the abdominal wall.

Richter's hernia  incarcerated or strangulated hernia in which only part of the circumference of the bowel wall is involved.

sciatic hernia  herniation of intestine through the greater or lesser sciatic foramen.

scrotal hernia  inguinal hernia that has passed into the scrotum.

sliding hernia  hernia of the cecum (on the right) or the sigmoid colon (on the left) in which the intestinal wall forms part of the hernial sac and the rest of the sac is formed by parietal peritoneum.

sliding hiatal hernia  hiatal hernia with the upper stomach and the esophagogastric junction protruding into the posterior mediastinum; the protrusion may be fixed or intermittent and is partially covered by a peritoneal sac.

strangulated hernia  incarcerated hernia so tightly constricted as to compromise the blood supply of the hernial sac, leading to gangrene of the sac and its contents.

synovial hernia  protrusion of the inner lining membrane through the fibrous membrane of an articular capsule.

umbilical hernia  an abdominal hernia with intestine inside the umbilicus and the body wall defect and protruding intestine covered by skin and subcutaneous tissue.

hernia u´teri inguina´lis  see persistent müllerian duct syndrome, under syndrome.

vaginal hernia  vaginocele; a hernia into the vagina.

ventral hernia  abdominal h.

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her·ni·a (hûrn-)

n. pl. her·ni·as

The protrusion of an organ or other bodily structure through the wall that normally contains it.

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herni·al adj.

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hernia,

n condition in which a part of the peritoneum or an intestine protrudes through weakened muscles, either of the diaphragm or of the abdominal wall. Hernias are typically classified based on their location.

Hernia.

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hernia (hur´nē),

n the protrusion of an organ through an abnormal opening in the muscle wall of the cavity that surrounds it. It may be congenital, may result from the failure of certain structures to close after birth, or may be acquired later in life because of obesity, muscular weakness, surgery, or illness.

hernia, hiatal,

n a protrusion of a portion of the stomach upward through the diaphragm. The condition occurs in approximately 40% of individuals and most people display few, if any, symptoms. The major difficulty is gastroesophageal reflux, which is the backflow of the acid contents of the stomach into the esophagus.

hernia, inguinal (direct),

n a protrusion of the intestines into an opening between the deep epigastric artery and the edge of the rectus muscle; (indirect) involves the internal inguinal ring and passes into the inguinal canal.

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hernia

the abnormal protrusion of part of an organ or tissue through the structures normally containing it.

In this condition, a weak spot or other abnormal opening in a body wall permits part of the organ to bulge through. A hernia may develop in various parts of the body; most commonly in the region of the abdomen.

A layman's term for hernia is rupture. A hernia is either acquired or congenital.

Anatomically specific hernias are listed under their individual sites.

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caudal abdominal h's

see inguinal, femoral, scrotal hernias (below).

cerebral hernia

see brain herniation.

cord hernia

a type of umbilical hernia in which the midgut has failed to return to the abdominal cavity during fetal development and remains within the umbilical cord.

crural hernia

femoral hernia.

external hernia

protrusion of abdominal contents through an opening in the abdominal wall.

false hernia

a structural defect with contents but without a peritoneal sac.

fat hernia

hernial protrusion of peritoneal fat through the abdominal wall or through the vulvar wall during a difficult calving.

incarcerated hernia

hernia so occluded that it cannot be returned by manipulation; it may or may not become strangulated.

incisional hernia

hernia after operation at the site of the surgical incision, owing to improper healing or to excessive strain on the healing tissue; such strain may be caused by excessive muscular effort, activity, or by obesity, which creates additional pressure on the weakened area.

inguinoscrotal hernia

see scrotal hernia (below).

irreducible hernia

incarcerated hernia.

mesenteric hernia

hernia of a loop of small intestine through a traumatic tear in the mesentery.

muscle hernia

the belly of the muscle protrudes through a tear in the fascia and epimysium.

paraesophageal hernia

hiatal hernia in which part or almost all of the stomach protrudes through the hiatus into the thorax to the left of the esophagus, with the gastroesophageal junction remaining in place.

pelvic hernia

hernia caused by a loop of intestine becoming incarcerated in a hiatus between the wall of the pelvis and the ductus deferens, caused by tearing of the fold of the ductus at castration. May occur many months after the castration operation. Can be resolved, if diagnosed early enough, by traction on the taut mesentery per rectum.

pericardial hernia

see peritoneopericardial hernia.

perineal hernia

see perineal hernia.

pleuroperitoneal hernia

see diaphragmatic hernia.

prepubic hernia

the result of avulsion of the cranial pubic tendon.

reducible hernia

one that can be returned by manipulation.

scrotal hernia

inguinal hernia which has passed into the scrotum. When these become strangulated they cause severe abdominal pain and acute local swelling. In large animals the tightened spermatic cord can be felt disappearing into the inguinal canal. See also intestinal obstruction.

Scrotal hernia in a horse. By permission from Knottenbelt DC, Pascoe RR, Diseases and Disorders of the Horse, Saunders, 2003

sliding hiatal hernia

hiatal hernia in which the stomach and the cardioesophageal junction protrude into the caudal mediastinum; the protrusion, which may be fixed or intermittent, is partially covered by a peritoneal sac.

slip hernia, slipped hernia

sliding hernia.

strangulated hernia

one that is tightly constricted. As any hernia progresses and bulges out through the weak point in its containing wall, the opening in the wall tends to close behind it, forming a narrow neck. If this neck is pinched tight enough to cut off the venous return, the hernia will quickly swell and become strangulated. This is a very dangerous condition that can appear suddenly and requires immediate surgical attention. Unless the blood supply is restored promptly, gangrene can set in and may cause death.

traumatic hernia

protrusion of abdominal viscera into a subcutaneous site because of traumatic injury to the abdominal muscles.

uterine hernia

a gravid uterus can prolapse through an inguinal hernia in dogs and cats.

vaginal hernia

hernia into the vagina; called also colpocele.

ventral hernia

trauma with tearing of the body wall results in prolapse of abdominal contents into the subcutaneous tissue. Also reported in ewes from violent straining during parturition.