Obstructed hernia
An obstructed abdominal hernia is one in which the bowel is trapped and obstructed but viable. The danger is that it will progress to strangulation.
Management might comprise an initial attempt at gentle reduction, i.e.:
- give analgesia
- raise the foot of the bed
- 20 minutes later, attempt to reduce the contents
If this succeeds, operative repair is usually carried out 24-48 hours later, i.e. on the next available theatre list. Emergency surgery is indicated if the hernia is irreducible in order to prevent strangulation.
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