Hernia

A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or tissue out of the body cavity in which it normally lies. By far the most common hernias develop in the abdomen, when a weakness in the abdominal wall evolves into a localized hole, or "defect", through which the protrusion occurs. These may present either with pain at the site, a visible or palpable lump, or in some cases by more vague symptoms resulting from pressure on an intraabdominal organ which has become "stuck" in the hernia. Fatty tissue usually enters a hernia first, but it may be followed by or accompanied by a segment of intestine or other intraabdominal organ. It is generally advisable to repair hernias in a timely fashion, in order to prevent complications which include intestinal blockage, gangrene, and death. Most hernias can be surgically repaired. Recovery rarely requires long-term changes in lifestyle.

Other types of hernias

• sliding hernia - the hernia sac is partially formed by the wall of a viscus
• Littre's hernia - hernia involving a Meckel's diverticulum
• Spigelian hernia - hernia through the linea semilunaris (spigelian fascia); a.k.a. spontaneous lateral ventral hernia
• internal hernia - hernia into or involving an intraabdominal structure
• obturator hernia - hernia through obturator canal
• lumbar hernia
• Petit's hernia - hernia through Petit's triangle (inferior lumbar triangle)
• Grynfeltt's hernia - hernia through Grynfeltt-Lesshaft triangle (superior lumbar triangle)
• pantaloon hernia
• ventral hernia
• Richter's hernia - incarcerated or strangulated hernia involving only one sidewall of the bowel. can result in bowel perforation through ischaemia without causing bowel obstruction.
• epigastric hernia - hernia through the linea alba above the umbilicus
• intraparietal hernia
• Hesselbach's hernia
• Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
• Bochdalek's hernia
• Morgagni's hernia
• propertitoneal hernia
• Cooper's hernia