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Strangulated hernia
A groin hernia is generally not a life-threatening disorder, but if strangulation of a part of the gut arises it is! An acute operation is then indicated.
A hernia can strangulate if it no longer disappears spontaneously or cannot be repositioned manually. Apart from the swelling, increasing pain can occur because the tissue in the hernia gets insufficient blood supply and will die. Nausea and vomiting frequently occur.
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In this example the hernia is located in the left groin with a marked swelling (1,2). At the emergency operation the hernia is freed (3). After opening the hernia sac, that is the membrane around the contents of the hernia, the strangulated black/blue small bowel is visible (4). After some more bowel has been evacuated from the abdomen and after waiting for some time, a part of the small bowel nevertheless remains blue and this means that this part has died. This part is thus removed, and a connection is made between the healthy small bowel parts.