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Sub-Category:

Other GI Conditions

Number of Conditions: 1

Hernias (Incarcerated, Strangulated)

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Sub-category: Other GI Conditions

Symptoms:
localized pain or tenderness at the hernia site; nausea; vomiting; abdominal distension; redness or discoloration over the hernia; inability to pass stool or gas

Root Cause:
A portion of an organ, typically the intestine, becomes trapped in the hernia sac, compromising blood flow (strangulated) or causing obstruction without blood flow compromise (incarcerated).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Physical examination, imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scan, and observation of symptoms like persistent pain and obstruction signs.

Treatment:
Emergent surgical intervention to release the trapped organ and repair the hernia; in severe cases, resection of necrotic tissue may be required.

Medications:
Pain management with opioids or NSAIDs, and prophylactic antibiotics like cefazolin (a first-generation cephalosporin) to reduce infection risk.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incarcerated hernias are relatively common, with about 10-15% of hernias progressing to incarceration; strangulated hernias occur in approximately 1-3% of cases.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Older age, male gender, obesity, chronic coughing or straining, history of previous hernias, heavy lifting.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with timely surgical intervention; delayed treatment can lead to bowel necrosis, sepsis, and increased mortality.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Bowel obstruction, ischemia, necrosis, perforation, and sepsis.