Femoral hernia: Difference between revisions
Wikify. |
m link De Garengeot's hernia; cleaned up using AutoEd |
||
(35 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Refimprove|date=September 2009}} |
{{Refimprove|date=September 2009}} |
||
{{Infobox medical condition |
|||
{{Infobox medical condition (new) |
|||
| Name = Femoral hernia |
|||
| |
| name = Femoral hernia |
||
| |
| synonyms = |
||
| |
| image = |
||
| |
| caption = |
||
| |
| pronounce = |
||
| |
| field = [[General surgery]] |
||
| |
| symptoms = |
||
| |
| complications = |
||
| onset = |
|||
| eMedicineSubj = emerg |
|||
| duration = |
|||
| eMedicineTopic = 251 |
|||
| |
| types = |
||
| causes = |
|||
| MeshNumber = C06.405.293.249.374 |
|||
| risks = |
|||
| diagnosis = |
|||
| differential = |
|||
| prevention = |
|||
| treatment = |
|||
| medication = |
|||
| prognosis = |
|||
| frequency = |
|||
| deaths = |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
'''Femoral hernias''' occur just below the [[inguinal ligament]], when abdominal contents pass through a naturally occurring weakness in the abdominal wall called the [[femoral canal]]. Femoral hernias are a relatively uncommon type, accounting for only 3% of all hernias. While femoral hernias can occur in both males and females, almost all develop in women due to the increased width of the female pelvis.<ref name=surgeryencyclopedia> |
|||
A hernia is caused by the protrusion of a [[viscus]] (in the case of groin hernias, an intraabdominal organ) through a weakness in the containing wall. This weakness may be inherent, as in the case of inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias. On the other hand, the weakness may be caused by surgical incision through the muscles of the abdominal/thoracic wall. Hernias occurring through these are called incisional hernias. |
|||
{{cite web | url=http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Femoral-Hernia-Repair.html | title=Femoral hernia repair | last=Rastegari | first=Esther Csapo | publisher=Advameg, Inc. | year=2009 | access-date=10 Sep 2009 }} |
|||
</ref> Femoral hernias are more common in adults than in children. Those that do occur in children are more likely to be associated with a [[Connective tissue disease|connective tissue disorder]] or with conditions that increase intra-abdominal pressure. Seventy percent of pediatric cases of femoral hernias occur in infants under the age of one.<ref name=surgeryencyclopedia/> |
|||
==Definitions== |
|||
'''Femoral hernias''' occur just below the [[inguinal ligament]], when abdominal contents pass through a naturally occurring weakness called the [[femoral canal]]. Femoral hernias are a relatively uncommon type, accounting for only 3% of all hernias. While femoral hernias can occur in both males and females, almost all of them develop in women because of the wider bone structure of the female pelvis.<ref name=surgeryencyclopedia> |
|||
A hernia is caused by the protrusion of a [[viscus]] (in the case of groin hernias, an intra-abdominal organ) through a weakness in the [[abdominal wall]]. This weakness may be inherent, as in the case of [[Inguinal hernia|inguinal]], femoral and [[umbilical hernia]]s. On the other hand, the weakness may be caused by previous surgical incision through the muscles and fascia in the area; this is termed an [[incisional hernia]]. |
|||
{{cite web |
|||
| url=http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Femoral-Hernia-Repair.html |
|||
| title=Femoral hernia repair |
|||
| last=Rastegari |
|||
| first=Esther Csapo |
|||
| publisher=Advameg, Inc. |
|||
| year=2009 |
|||
| accessdate=10 Sep 2009 |
|||
}} |
|||
</ref> Femoral hernias are more common in adults than in children. Those that do occur in children are more likely to be associated with a connective tissue disorder or with conditions that increase intra-abdominal pressure. Seventy percent of pediatric cases of femoral hernias occur in infants under the age of one.<ref name=surgeryencyclopedia/> |
|||
A femoral hernia may be either reducible or irreducible, and each type can also present as obstructed and/or strangulated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://app.pulsenotes.com/general-surgery/notes/inguinal-hernias|title=Inguinal hernias|date=24 March 2018|website=Pulsenotes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324224422/https://app.pulsenotes.com/general-surgery/notes/inguinal-hernias|archive-date=2018-03-24|url-status=dead|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> |
|||
==Definition== |
|||
A '''reducible femoral hernia''' occurs when a femoral hernia can be pushed back into the abdomen, either spontaneously or with manipulation, but most likely, spontaneously. This is the most common type of femoral hernia and is usually painless. |
|||
A '''reducible femoral hernia''' occurs when a femoral hernia can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity, either spontaneously or with manipulation. However, it is more likely to occur spontaneously. This is the most common type of femoral hernia and is usually painless. |
|||
An ''' |
An '''irreducible femoral hernia''' occurs when a femoral hernia cannot be completely reduced, typically due to adhesions between the hernia and the hernial sac. This can cause pain and a feeling of illness. |
||
An '''obstructed femoral hernia''' occurs when a part of the intestine involved in the hernia becomes twisted, kinked, or constricted, causing an intestinal obstruction. |
|||
A '''strangulated femoral hernia''' occurs when a femoral hernia blocks blood supply to part of the bowel - the loop of bowel loses its blood supply. Strangulation can happen in all hernias, but is more common in femoral and inguinal hernias due to their narrow "necks". Nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain may occur with a strangulated hernia. This is a medical emergency. A strangulated intestine can result in [[necrosis]] (tissue death) followed by [[gangrene]] (tissue decay). This is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate surgery.<ref name=medlineplus> |
|||
{{cite web |
|||
A '''strangulated femoral hernia''' occurs when a constriction of the hernia limits or completely obstructs blood supply to part of the bowel involved in the hernia. Strangulation can occur in all hernias, but is more common in femoral and inguinal hernias due to their narrow "weaknesses" in the abdominal wall. [[Nausea]], vomiting, and severe abdominal pain are characteristics of a strangulated hernia. This is a medical emergency, as the loss of blood supply to the bowel can result in [[necrosis]] (tissue death) followed by [[gangrene]] (tissue decay). This is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate surgery.<ref name="medlineplus">{{cite web | url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001136.htm | title=Femoral hernia | publisher=[[MedlinePlus]] | date=27 Aug 2009 | access-date=9 Sep 2009}} |
|||
| url=https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001136.htm |
|||
| title=Femoral hernia |
|||
| publisher=[[MedlinePlus]] |
|||
| date=27 Aug 2009 |
|||
| accessdate=9 Sep 2009 |
|||
}} |
|||
</ref> |
</ref> |
||
The term incarcerated femoral hernia is sometimes used, but may have different meanings to different authors and physicians. For example: "Sometimes the hernia can get stuck in the canal and is called an irreducible or incarcerated femoral hernia."<ref name=Bupa>{{cite web | url=http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/femoral_hernia.html | title=Hernia | publisher=Bupa | date=April 2008 | access-date=10 Sep 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512182841/http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/femoral_hernia.html | archive-date=12 May 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref> "The term ''incarcerated'' is sometimes used to describe an [obstructed] hernia that is irreducible but not strangulated. Thus, an irreducible, obstructed hernia can also be called an incarcerated one."<ref name=medicnotes> |
|||
A femoral hernia may be either reducible or irreducible, and each type can also present as either (or both) obstructed or strangulated.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} |
|||
{{cite web |url=http://www.medicnotes.org.uk/index.php?p=209 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224004608/http://www.medicnotes.org.uk/index.php?p=209 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 December 2012 |title=Hernia |publisher=freshspring web solutions |year=2009 |access-date=10 Sep 2009 }} |
|||
</ref> "Incarcerated hernia is a hernia that cannot be reduced. These may lead to bowel obstruction but are not associated with vascular compromise."<ref name=mdconsult> |
|||
{{cite web | url=http://www.mdconsult.com/das/pdxmd/body/159083617-2/0?type=med&eid=9-u1.0-_1_mt_1017193 | title=Femoral and inguinal hernia | publisher=mdconsult.com | date=19 Sep 2007 | access-date=10 Sep 2009}}</ref> |
|||
A hernia can be described as reducible if the contents within the sac can be pushed back through the defect into the peritoneal cavity, whereas with an incarcerated hernia, the contents are stuck in the hernia sac.<ref>de Virgilio, C., Frank, P. and Grigorian, A. (2015). Surgery. New York, NY: Springer New York.</ref> However, the term ''incarcerated'' seems to always imply that the femoral hernia is at least irreducible. |
|||
The term '''incarcerated femoral hernia''' is sometimes used, but may have different meanings to different authors and physicians. For example: "Sometimes the hernia can get stuck in the canal and is called an irreducible or incarcerated femoral hernia."<ref name=Bupa> |
|||
{{cite web |
|||
==Signs and symptoms== |
|||
| url=http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/femoral_hernia.html |
|||
Femoral hernias typically present as a groin lump or bulge, which may differ in size during the day, based on internal pressure variations of the intestine. This lump is typically retort shaped. The bulge or lump is typically smaller or may disappear completely in the prone position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drbegani.com/Procedures/Hernia.htm |title=Dr. M. M. Begani - Abhishek Day Care - Day Care Surgery |access-date=2014-01-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924060243/http://www.drbegani.com/Procedures/Hernia.htm |archive-date=2012-09-24 }}</ref> |
|||
| title=Hernia |
|||
| publisher=Bupa |
|||
They may or may not be associated with pain. Often, they present with a varying degree of complication ranging from irreducibility through intestinal obstruction to frank gangrene of contained bowel. The incidence of strangulation in femoral hernias is high. A femoral hernia has often been found to be the cause of unexplained [[Intestinal obstruction|small bowel obstruction]]. |
|||
| date=April 2008 |
|||
| accessdate=10 Sep 2009 |
|||
The cough impulse is often absent and is not relied on solely when making a diagnosis of femoral hernia. The lump is more globular than the pear-shaped lump of the inguinal hernia. The bulk of a femoral hernia lies below an imaginary line drawn between the [[Ilium (bone)|anterior superior iliac spine]] and the [[Ilium (bone)|pubic tubercle]] (which essentially represents the [[inguinal ligament]]) whereas an inguinal hernia starts above this line. Nonetheless, it is often impossible to distinguish the two preoperatively. |
|||
}} |
|||
</ref> "The term 'incarcerated' is sometimes used to describe an [obstructed] hernia that is irreducible but not strangulated. Thus, an irreducible, obstructed hernia can also be called an incarcerated one."<ref name=medicnotes> |
|||
{{cite web |
|||
|url=http://www.medicnotes.org.uk/index.php?p=209 |
|||
|title=Hernia |
|||
|publisher=freshspring web solutions |
|||
|year=2009 |
|||
|accessdate=10 Sep 2009 |
|||
}}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
|||
</ref> "Incarcerated hernia: a hernia that cannot be reduced. May lead to bowel obstruction but is not associated with vascular compromise."<ref name=mdconsult> |
|||
{{cite web |
|||
| url=http://www.mdconsult.com/das/pdxmd/body/159083617-2/0?type=med&eid=9-u1.0-_1_mt_1017193 |
|||
| title=Femoral and inguinal hernia |
|||
| publisher=mdconsult.com |
|||
| date=19 Sep 2007 |
|||
| accessdate=10 Sep 2009 |
|||
}}</ref> |
|||
A hernia can be described as reducible if the contents within the sac can be pushed back through the defect into the peritoneal cavity, whereas with an incarcerated hernia, the contents are stuck in the hernia sac.<ref>de Virgilio, C., Frank, P. and Grigorian, A. (2015). Surgery. New York, NY: Springer New York.</ref> However, the term "incarcerated" seems to always imply that the femoral hernia is at least irreducible. |
|||
==Anatomy== |
==Anatomy== |
||
The [[femoral canal]] is located below the inguinal ligament on the lateral aspect of the [[pubic tubercle]]. It is bounded by the [[inguinal ligament]] anteriorly, [[pectineal ligament]] posteriorly, [[lacunar ligament]] medially, and the [[femoral vein]] laterally. It normally contains a few lymphatics, loose areolar tissue and occasionally a lymph node called [[Cloquet's node]]. The function of this canal appears to be to allow the femoral vein to expand when necessary to accommodate increased venous return from the leg during periods of activity |
The [[femoral canal]] is located below the inguinal ligament on the lateral aspect of the [[pubic tubercle]]. It is bounded by the [[inguinal ligament]] anteriorly, [[pectineal ligament]] posteriorly, [[lacunar ligament]] medially, and the [[femoral vein]] laterally. It normally contains a few [[lymphatics]], loose areolar tissue, and occasionally a lymph node called [[Cloquet's node]]. The function of this canal appears to be to allow the femoral vein to expand when necessary to accommodate increased venous return from the leg during periods of activity. |
||
== |
==Diagnosis== |
||
The diagnosis is largely a clinical one, generally done by [[physical examination]] of the groin. However, in obese patients, imaging in the form of [[ultrasound]], [[CT scan|CT]], or [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] may aid in the diagnosis. For example, an abdominal X-ray showing small bowel obstruction in a female patient with a painful groin lump needs no further investigation. |
|||
Several subtypes of femoral hernia have been described.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Papanikitas|first=Joseph|author2=Robert P Sutcliffe |author3=Ashish Rohatgi |author4=Simon Atkinson |title=Bilateral Retrovascular Femoral Hernia|journal=Ann R Coll Surg Engl|date=July 2008|volume=90|series=5|pages=423–424|doi=10.1308/003588408X301235|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2645754/pdf/rcse9005-423.pdf|accessdate=6 July 2012|pmc=2645754|pmid=18634743}}</ref> |
|||
Several other conditions have a similar presentation and must be considered when forming the diagnosis: [[inguinal hernia]], an enlarged femoral [[lymph node]], [[aneurysm]] of the femoral artery, [[saphena varix|dilation of the saphenous vein]], [[athletic pubalgia]], and an [[Psoas abscess|abscess of the psoas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://teachmesurgery.com/general/small-bowel/femoral-hernia/#Differential_Diagnosis|title=Femoral Hernia|date=24 March 2018|website=Teach Me Surgery|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/dtc/primsurg/docbook/html/x4495.html|title=Femoral hernias|date=24 March 2018|website=Universitäts Klinikumbonn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021118105218/http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/dtc/primsurg/docbook/html/x4495.html|archive-date=2002-11-18|url-status=dead|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> |
|||
===Classification=== |
|||
Several subtypes of femoral hernia have been described.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Papanikitas|first=Joseph|author2=Robert P Sutcliffe |author3=Ashish Rohatgi |author4=Simon Atkinson |title=Bilateral Retrovascular Femoral Hernia|journal=Ann R Coll Surg Engl|date=July 2008|volume=90|issue=5|pages=423–424|doi=10.1308/003588408X301235|pmc=2645754|pmid=18634743}}</ref> |
|||
{| class="wikitable" |
{| class="wikitable" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Retrovascular hernia ( |
| 'Retrovascular hernia (Narath's hernia)' || The hernial sac emerges from the abdomen within the femoral sheath but lies posteriorly to the femoral vein and artery, visible only if the hip is congenitally dislocated. |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Serafini's hernia || The hernial sac emerges behind femoral vessels (E). |
| 'Serafini's hernia' || The hernial sac emerges behind femoral vessels (E). |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Velpeau hernia || The |
| 'Velpeau hernia' || The hernial sac lies in front of the femoral blood vessels in the groin (B). |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| External femoral hernia of Hesselbach and Cloquet || The neck of the sac lies lateral to the femoral vessels ((A) and (F)). |
| 'External femoral hernia of Hesselbach and Cloquet' || The neck of the sac lies lateral to the femoral vessels ((A) and (F)). |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Transpectineal femoral hernia of Laugier || The |
| 'Transpectineal femoral hernia of Laugier' || The hernial sac transverses the lacunar ligament or the [[pectineal ligament]] of Cooper (D). |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| 'Callisen's or Cloquet's hernia' || The hernial sac descends deep to the femoral vessels through the [[pectineal fascia]] (F). |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| Béclard's hernia || The |
| 'Béclard's hernia' || The hernial sac emerges through the [[saphenous opening]] carrying the [[cribriform fascia]] with it. |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| De Garengeot's hernia || This is a [[vermiform appendix]] trapped within the hernial sac. |
| '[[De Garengeot's hernia]]' || This is a [[vermiform appendix]] trapped within the hernial sac. |
||
|} |
|} |
||
==Signs and symptoms== |
|||
They typically present when standing erect as a groin lump or bulge, which may differ in size during the day, based on internal pressure variations of the intestine. The bulge or lump typically is smaller or may not be visible in a prone position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drbegani.com/Procedures/Hernia.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-01-07 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924060243/http://www.drbegani.com/Procedures/Hernia.htm |archivedate=2012-09-24 |df= }}</ref> |
|||
They may or may not be associated with pain. Often, they present with a varying degree of complication ranging from irreducibility through intestinal obstruction to frank gangrene of contained bowel. The incidence of strangulation in femoral hernias is high. A femoral hernia has often been found to be the cause of unexplained [[Intestinal obstruction|small bowel obstruction]]. |
|||
The obvious finding may be a lump in the groin. Cough impulse is often absent and should not be relied on solely when making a diagnosis of femoral hernia. The lump is more globular than the pear shaped lump of the inguinal hernia. The bulk of a femoral hernia lies below an imaginary line drawn between the [[Ilium (bone)|anterior superior iliac spine]] and the [[Ilium (bone)|pubic tubercle]] (which essentially represents the [[inguinal ligament]]) whereas an inguinal hernia starts above this line. Nonetheless, it is often impossible to distinguish the two preoperatively. |
|||
==Diagnosis== |
|||
The diagnosis is largely a clinical one, generally done by [[physical examination]] of the groin. However, in obese patients, imaging in the form of ultrasonography, CT or MRI may aid in the diagnosis. An abdominal x-ray showing small bowel obstruction in a female patient with a painful groin lump needs no further investigation. |
|||
Several other conditions have a similar presentation and must be considered when forming the diagnosis: [[inguinal hernia]], an enlarged inguinal [[lymph node]], [[aneurysm]] of the femoral artery, [[saphena varix]], and an [[Psoas abscess|abscess of the psoas]]. |
|||
==Management== |
==Management== |
||
Line 117: | Line 91: | ||
===Surgery=== |
===Surgery=== |
||
Some surgeons choose to perform "key-hole" or laparoscopic surgery (also called minimally invasive surgery) rather than conventional "open" surgery. With minimally invasive surgery, one or more small incisions are made that allow the surgeon to use a surgical camera and small tools to repair the hernia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surgery4all.com/live/2007/08/14/laparoscopic-keyhole-hernia-repair/ |title= |
Some surgeons choose to perform "key-hole" or [[Laparoscopy|laparoscopic surgery]] (also called minimally invasive surgery) rather than conventional "open" surgery. With minimally invasive surgery, one or more small incisions are made that allow the surgeon to use a surgical camera and small tools to repair the hernia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.surgery4all.com/live/2007/08/14/laparoscopic-keyhole-hernia-repair/ |title=Surgery 4 all » Laparoscopic (Keyhole) hernia repair |access-date=2009-09-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716165118/http://www.surgery4all.com/live/2007/08/14/laparoscopic-keyhole-hernia-repair/ |archive-date=2011-07-16 }}</ref> |
||
Either open or minimally invasive surgery may be performed under general or regional |
Either open or minimally invasive surgery may be performed under general or regional anesthesia, depending on the extent of the intervention needed. Three approaches have been described for open surgery: |
||
* |
* Lockwood's infra-inguinal approach |
||
* |
* Lotheissen's trans-inguinal approach |
||
* |
* McEvedy's high approach |
||
The infra-inguinal approach is the preferred method for elective repair. The trans-inguinal approach involves dissecting through the inguinal canal and carries the risk of weakening the inguinal canal. |
The infra-inguinal approach is the preferred method for elective repair. The trans-inguinal approach involves dissecting through the inguinal canal and carries the risk of weakening the inguinal canal. McEvedy's approach is preferred in the emergency setting when strangulation is suspected. This allows better access to and visualization of the bowel for possible resection. In any approach, care should be taken to avoid injury to the urinary bladder which is often a part of the medial part of the hernial sac. |
||
Repair is either performed by suturing the [[inguinal ligament]] to the [[pectineal ligament]] using strong non-absorbable sutures or by placing a mesh plug in the [[femoral ring]]. With either technique care should be taken to avoid any pressure on the [[femoral vein]]. |
Repair is either performed by suturing the [[inguinal ligament]] to the [[pectineal ligament]] using strong non-absorbable sutures or by placing a mesh plug in the [[femoral ring]]. With either technique care should be taken to avoid any pressure on the [[femoral vein]]. |
||
Line 132: | Line 106: | ||
==Epidemiology== |
==Epidemiology== |
||
Femoral hernias are more common in multiparous females which results from elevated intra-abdominal pressure that dilates |
Femoral hernias are more common in multiparous females, which results from elevated intra-abdominal pressure that dilates the femoral vein and in turn stretches femoral ring. Such constant pressure causes preperitoneal fat to insinuate in the femoral ring, a consequence of which is development of a femoral peritoneal sac.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Hachisuka|first=Takehiro|title=Femoral hernia repair|journal=Surgical Clinics of North America|date=1 October 2003|volume=83|issue=5|pages=1189–1205|doi=10.1016/S0039-6109(03)00120-8|pmid=14533910 |url=http://medicina.iztacala.unam.mx/medicina/Femoral%20hernia%20repair.pdf|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021051920/http://medicina.iztacala.unam.mx/medicina/Femoral%20hernia%20repair.pdf|archive-date=2012-10-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
||
==External links== |
== External links == |
||
{{Medical resources |
|||
*[http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Femoral-Hernia-Repair.html Surgery Encyclopaedia] |
|||
| meshName = Hernia,+Femoral |
|||
| meshNumber = C06.405.293.249.374 |
|||
| DiseasesDB = 4793 |
|||
| ICD10 = {{ICD10|K|41||k|40}} |
|||
| ICD9 = {{ICD9|553.0}} |
|||
| ICDO = |
|||
| OMIM = |
|||
| MedlinePlus = 001136 |
|||
| eMedicineSubj = emerg |
|||
| eMedicineTopic = 251 |
|||
}} |
|||
* [http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Femoral-Hernia-Repair.html Surgery Encyclopaedia] |
|||
{{Gastroenterology}} |
{{Gastroenterology}} |
Revision as of 02:18, 17 July 2024
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2009) |
Femoral hernia | |
---|---|
Specialty | General surgery |
Femoral hernias occur just below the inguinal ligament, when abdominal contents pass through a naturally occurring weakness in the abdominal wall called the femoral canal. Femoral hernias are a relatively uncommon type, accounting for only 3% of all hernias. While femoral hernias can occur in both males and females, almost all develop in women due to the increased width of the female pelvis.[1] Femoral hernias are more common in adults than in children. Those that do occur in children are more likely to be associated with a connective tissue disorder or with conditions that increase intra-abdominal pressure. Seventy percent of pediatric cases of femoral hernias occur in infants under the age of one.[1]
Definitions
A hernia is caused by the protrusion of a viscus (in the case of groin hernias, an intra-abdominal organ) through a weakness in the abdominal wall. This weakness may be inherent, as in the case of inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias. On the other hand, the weakness may be caused by previous surgical incision through the muscles and fascia in the area; this is termed an incisional hernia.
A femoral hernia may be either reducible or irreducible, and each type can also present as obstructed and/or strangulated.[2]
A reducible femoral hernia occurs when a femoral hernia can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity, either spontaneously or with manipulation. However, it is more likely to occur spontaneously. This is the most common type of femoral hernia and is usually painless.
An irreducible femoral hernia occurs when a femoral hernia cannot be completely reduced, typically due to adhesions between the hernia and the hernial sac. This can cause pain and a feeling of illness.
An obstructed femoral hernia occurs when a part of the intestine involved in the hernia becomes twisted, kinked, or constricted, causing an intestinal obstruction.
A strangulated femoral hernia occurs when a constriction of the hernia limits or completely obstructs blood supply to part of the bowel involved in the hernia. Strangulation can occur in all hernias, but is more common in femoral and inguinal hernias due to their narrow "weaknesses" in the abdominal wall. Nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain are characteristics of a strangulated hernia. This is a medical emergency, as the loss of blood supply to the bowel can result in necrosis (tissue death) followed by gangrene (tissue decay). This is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate surgery.[3]
The term incarcerated femoral hernia is sometimes used, but may have different meanings to different authors and physicians. For example: "Sometimes the hernia can get stuck in the canal and is called an irreducible or incarcerated femoral hernia."[4] "The term incarcerated is sometimes used to describe an [obstructed] hernia that is irreducible but not strangulated. Thus, an irreducible, obstructed hernia can also be called an incarcerated one."[5] "Incarcerated hernia is a hernia that cannot be reduced. These may lead to bowel obstruction but are not associated with vascular compromise."[6]
A hernia can be described as reducible if the contents within the sac can be pushed back through the defect into the peritoneal cavity, whereas with an incarcerated hernia, the contents are stuck in the hernia sac.[7] However, the term incarcerated seems to always imply that the femoral hernia is at least irreducible.
Signs and symptoms
Femoral hernias typically present as a groin lump or bulge, which may differ in size during the day, based on internal pressure variations of the intestine. This lump is typically retort shaped. The bulge or lump is typically smaller or may disappear completely in the prone position.[8]
They may or may not be associated with pain. Often, they present with a varying degree of complication ranging from irreducibility through intestinal obstruction to frank gangrene of contained bowel. The incidence of strangulation in femoral hernias is high. A femoral hernia has often been found to be the cause of unexplained small bowel obstruction.
The cough impulse is often absent and is not relied on solely when making a diagnosis of femoral hernia. The lump is more globular than the pear-shaped lump of the inguinal hernia. The bulk of a femoral hernia lies below an imaginary line drawn between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle (which essentially represents the inguinal ligament) whereas an inguinal hernia starts above this line. Nonetheless, it is often impossible to distinguish the two preoperatively.
Anatomy
The femoral canal is located below the inguinal ligament on the lateral aspect of the pubic tubercle. It is bounded by the inguinal ligament anteriorly, pectineal ligament posteriorly, lacunar ligament medially, and the femoral vein laterally. It normally contains a few lymphatics, loose areolar tissue, and occasionally a lymph node called Cloquet's node. The function of this canal appears to be to allow the femoral vein to expand when necessary to accommodate increased venous return from the leg during periods of activity.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is largely a clinical one, generally done by physical examination of the groin. However, in obese patients, imaging in the form of ultrasound, CT, or MRI may aid in the diagnosis. For example, an abdominal X-ray showing small bowel obstruction in a female patient with a painful groin lump needs no further investigation.
Several other conditions have a similar presentation and must be considered when forming the diagnosis: inguinal hernia, an enlarged femoral lymph node, aneurysm of the femoral artery, dilation of the saphenous vein, athletic pubalgia, and an abscess of the psoas.[9][10]
Classification
Several subtypes of femoral hernia have been described.[11]
'Retrovascular hernia (Narath's hernia)' | The hernial sac emerges from the abdomen within the femoral sheath but lies posteriorly to the femoral vein and artery, visible only if the hip is congenitally dislocated. |
'Serafini's hernia' | The hernial sac emerges behind femoral vessels (E). |
'Velpeau hernia' | The hernial sac lies in front of the femoral blood vessels in the groin (B). |
'External femoral hernia of Hesselbach and Cloquet' | The neck of the sac lies lateral to the femoral vessels ((A) and (F)). |
'Transpectineal femoral hernia of Laugier' | The hernial sac transverses the lacunar ligament or the pectineal ligament of Cooper (D). |
'Callisen's or Cloquet's hernia' | The hernial sac descends deep to the femoral vessels through the pectineal fascia (F). |
'Béclard's hernia' | The hernial sac emerges through the saphenous opening carrying the cribriform fascia with it. |
'De Garengeot's hernia' | This is a vermiform appendix trapped within the hernial sac. |
Management
Femoral hernias, like most other hernias, usually need operative intervention. This should ideally be done as an elective (non-emergency) procedure. However, because of the high incidence of complications, femoral hernias often need emergency surgery.
Surgery
Some surgeons choose to perform "key-hole" or laparoscopic surgery (also called minimally invasive surgery) rather than conventional "open" surgery. With minimally invasive surgery, one or more small incisions are made that allow the surgeon to use a surgical camera and small tools to repair the hernia.[12]
Either open or minimally invasive surgery may be performed under general or regional anesthesia, depending on the extent of the intervention needed. Three approaches have been described for open surgery:
- Lockwood's infra-inguinal approach
- Lotheissen's trans-inguinal approach
- McEvedy's high approach
The infra-inguinal approach is the preferred method for elective repair. The trans-inguinal approach involves dissecting through the inguinal canal and carries the risk of weakening the inguinal canal. McEvedy's approach is preferred in the emergency setting when strangulation is suspected. This allows better access to and visualization of the bowel for possible resection. In any approach, care should be taken to avoid injury to the urinary bladder which is often a part of the medial part of the hernial sac.
Repair is either performed by suturing the inguinal ligament to the pectineal ligament using strong non-absorbable sutures or by placing a mesh plug in the femoral ring. With either technique care should be taken to avoid any pressure on the femoral vein.
Postoperative outcome
Patients undergoing elective surgical repair do very well and may be able to go home the same day. However, emergency repair carries a greater morbidity and mortality rate and this is directly proportional to the degree of bowel compromise.
Epidemiology
Femoral hernias are more common in multiparous females, which results from elevated intra-abdominal pressure that dilates the femoral vein and in turn stretches femoral ring. Such constant pressure causes preperitoneal fat to insinuate in the femoral ring, a consequence of which is development of a femoral peritoneal sac.[13]
References
- ^ a b Rastegari, Esther Csapo (2009). "Femoral hernia repair". Advameg, Inc. Retrieved 10 Sep 2009.
- ^ "Inguinal hernias". Pulsenotes. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-03-24. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "Femoral hernia". MedlinePlus. 27 Aug 2009. Retrieved 9 Sep 2009.
- ^ "Hernia". Bupa. April 2008. Archived from the original on 12 May 2009. Retrieved 10 Sep 2009.
- ^ "Hernia". freshspring web solutions. 2009. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 10 Sep 2009.
- ^ "Femoral and inguinal hernia". mdconsult.com. 19 Sep 2007. Retrieved 10 Sep 2009.
- ^ de Virgilio, C., Frank, P. and Grigorian, A. (2015). Surgery. New York, NY: Springer New York.
- ^ "Dr. M. M. Begani - Abhishek Day Care - Day Care Surgery". Archived from the original on 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
- ^ "Femoral Hernia". Teach Me Surgery. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "Femoral hernias". Universitäts Klinikumbonn. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 2002-11-18. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ Papanikitas, Joseph; Robert P Sutcliffe; Ashish Rohatgi; Simon Atkinson (July 2008). "Bilateral Retrovascular Femoral Hernia". Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 90 (5): 423–424. doi:10.1308/003588408X301235. PMC 2645754. PMID 18634743.
- ^ "Surgery 4 all » Laparoscopic (Keyhole) hernia repair". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Hachisuka, Takehiro (1 October 2003). "Femoral hernia repair" (PDF). Surgical Clinics of North America. 83 (5): 1189–1205. doi:10.1016/S0039-6109(03)00120-8. PMID 14533910. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-21. Retrieved 18 December 2012.