Abdominal wall hernia

Abdominal wall hernia is caused by abdominal organs along with the peritoneum protruding through weak areas or gaps in the abdominal wall. It can occur at any age. Inguinal hernia (at the junction of the thigh and abdomen) is the most common type. Other types include femoral hernia, umbilical hernia, linea alba hernia, incisional hernia, and others. In normal individuals, there are some weak areas on the abdominal wall, such as the inguinal canal and femoral ring. In addition, some people have developmental defects in certain parts of the abdominal wall, such as incomplete closure of the umbilical ring or defects in the linea alba. Surgical incisions, abdominal wall injuries caused by trauma, and weakening of abdominal wall muscles due to senile muscle atrophy are also predisposing conditions for the development of abdominal wall hernia. Increased intra-abdominal pressure, such as from chronic cough, constipation, difficulty urinating, frequent crying in infants, weightlifting, and vomiting, forces abdominal organs through weak areas of the abdominal wall, creating a small pouch-like structure called a hernia sac. Most organs can return into the abdominal cavity, which is called a reducible hernia; some require gentle manipulation to be reduced. When the abdominal wall defect is small and the forcibly protruded abdominal organs cannot be reduced, it is called an incarcerated hernia; when blood vessels are compressed and the protruded organ alone becomes ischemic, it is called a strangulated hernia. A strangulated hernia can cause necrosis of the protruded organ. If the protruding content is intestine, it can cause intestinal obstruction, intestinal necrosis, perforation, peritonitis, and so on. It can also break through the abdominal wall to form a fecal fistula. After a hernia forms, with repeated protrusion of organs, the hernia sac gradually enlarges.