Are femoral hernias life threatening?
Femoral hernias are generally not life-threatening medical conditions. Strangulation of the hernia can become life-threatening, however, and must be treated through emergency surgery.
How urgent is a femoral hernia?
Without immediate surgery, a strangulated femoral hernia can cause the intestinal tissue to die and decay. This can result in a life threatening infection, and immediate treatment is necessary.
Should all femoral hernias be repaired?
A femoral hernia needs to be repaired, even if it does not cause symptoms. If the hernia is not repaired, the intestine can get trapped inside the hernia. This is called an incarcerated, or strangulated, hernia. It can cut off blood supply to the intestines.
Can femoral hernia cause bladder problems?
Urinary bladder diverticula should be considered as a possible content of femoral hernias especially in males with long standing obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms.
Will a CT scan show a femoral hernia?
Although the diagnostic study of choice for femoral hernia is ultrasound, abdominal CT scan may be helpful in the diagnosis of femoral hernia. Findings on CT scan suggestive of femoral hernia include bowel dilation, mesangial thickening and bowel strangulation.
What is the protrusion of the femoral ring?
A femoral hernia is the protrusion of a peritoneal sac through the femoral ring into the femoral canal, posterior and inferior to the inguinal ligament. The sac may contain preperitoneal fat, omentum, small bowel, or other structures.
What is the shape of a femoral hernia?
Femoral hernias typically have a characteristic funnel-shaped neck. On axial CT images, the neck of the femoral hernia sac may be seen as a narrow protrusion through the femoral ring just medial to the common femoral vein.
Where is the femoral canal located on the body?
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.
What is the definition of a strangulated femoral hernia?
Definitions. 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.