What is a hernia?
A hernia that protrudes from the internal inguinal ring into the inguinal canal is called an inguinal hernia and is associated with an infant born with an unclosed or incomplete atresia of the peritoneal sphincter .
How can I tell if I have a hernia?
1. The mass in the inguinal region appears or worsens when standing, holding the breath and coughing or when the baby cries, and can be retracted or reduced after lying down or massaging with manipulation.
When the mass is protruding, localized swelling and discomfort or slight pain may occur, and the symptoms may be relieved after the mass is retracted.
3.When the incorporated contents are small intestine or colon, acute intestinal obstruction such as paroxysmal abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and anal stoppage of defecation and exhaustion may occur. When strangulation occurs, abdominal pain is persistent and may be accompanied by systemic toxic symptoms.
The mass is located above the inguinal ligament, the hiatal hernia mass is pear-shaped and can enter the ipsilateral scrotum or labia majora, the mass is located in front of the testicles, the mass can be completely or partially retracted after lying down or massaging with manipulation, press the inner ring and ask the patient to cough, if the mass is no longer protruding, it is a hiatal hernia, the embedded hernia mass is difficult to be retracted with manipulation.
5. When intussusception occurs, there are signs of intestinal obstruction such as abdominal pressure pain and hyperacusis of bowel sounds, and if strangulation occurs, there are signs of peritonitis.
6.The transillumination test is negative.
7.When intussusception occurs, gas-fluid planes are visible on standing examination of the abdomen, and when strangulation occurs, the abdominal fat line becomes blurred and the shadow of the psoas major muscle disappears.
What examination should be done at the hospital?
Ultrasound: intestinal echo is visible in the inguinal mass. A standing abdominal film of an incarcerated hiatal hernia shows intestinal obstruction.
What does the doctor base on to determine this?
1, mass in the inguinal region, which is reproducible.
2, the mass is located above the inguinal ligament, the transillumination test is negative, the hiatus hernia mass is pear-shaped and can enter the ipsilateral scrotum or labia majora, the mass is located in front of the testicles, the mass is soft, there is a sense of impact when coughing and no tenderness, but the mass becomes hard and has tenderness when embedded.
3.After lying down or massaging with manipulation, the mass can be completely or partially retracted. Pressing the inner ring and asking the child to cough, the mass will no longer protrude. The embedded hernia mass is difficult to be retracted by manipulation.
4. When intussusception occurs, there are signs of intestinal obstruction such as abdominal pressure pain and hyperactive bowel sounds, and if strangulation occurs, there are signs of peritonitis.
When is a hernia treated?
Children with a clear diagnosis and found within 1 year of age can usually be observed until they reach 1 year of age and then treated surgically, but if the hiatal hernia does not improve significantly they can be treated surgically at 3 months of age. For inguinal hiatal hernia, surgery should be performed immediately, and for those found at the age of 1 year or older, they can be observed for 3 months and then operated on if there is no improvement. The surgical methods are minimally invasive laparoscopy and open surgery.
What do I need to pay attention to during the day?
Parents need to be careful not to let their children cry too much and not to move too vigorously, as these may increase the abdominal pressure and cause the hernia to grow larger or even become ingrown. If you find that the hernia comes out and does not retract, the child cries, refuses to eat, vomits repeatedly, has a distended stomach, has redness and swelling in the area where the hernia comes out, or has blood in the stool, you need to go to the hospital in time to see if the hernia has become ingrown to avoid delaying treatment.