an inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin, and occurs when there is a defect in the muscular wall of the inguinal region, which allows the abdominal contents, such as the bowel or bladder appears under the skin covered by a bag peritoneum.
We distinguish 3 types of hernia in the groin:
Indirect inguinal hernia
it is commonly seen in young men and children, and may be present from birth, can descend into the scrotum, it evolves.
Direct inguinal hernia
it is commonly seen in men of middle or advanced age, and often on both sides.
Crural hernia
it occurs in older women.
The inguinal hernia appears as a bulge in the groin area that grows with the effort and diminishes or disappears, or bed rest and is accompanied by varying degrees of local pain, even to prevent the daily activity and running the risk of strangulation.
Strangulated hernia is very painful and groin bulge appears hard and tense to the touch, and can not be reintroduced into the abdomen. We usually also accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and may be distended abdomen, which requires urgent medical attention, because in a few hours the intestines can be perforated by lack of blood supply, causing peritonitis.
Risk factors that predispose to develop an inguinal hernia include: the weakening of the tissues due to age, pregnancy, obesity, the effort of the abdominal muscles, also influence cough and constipation. The only definitive treatment for inguinal hernia is surgery, all pacintes can be operated, except high risk patients for surgery and patients with direct inguinal hernia and the elderly, who have no symptoms and in which case it may be useful a truss.